The Prophet's original mosque

The oldest part of the mosque, around the Rawdah, where the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions built it when he arrived in Madinah.

History and Seerah

The land belonged to Banu an-Najjar, who would take no price for it except from Allah. The Prophet ﷺ had it cleared and levelled and built the mosque with his Companions, with palm trunks as pillars (Bukhari 428, 3585). A prayer in this mosque is better than a thousand prayers elsewhere, except Masjid al-Haram (Bukhari 1190).

Visitor tips

The Ottoman domes and older pillars mark this part. It fills first at prayer times, so come early.