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The Prophet’s Mosque is located in Medina, Saudi Arabia, another major holy city for Muslims. Parts of the original mosque structure date back to the Prophet Mohammed’s time (d. 632 CE). He was buried there upon his death. Medina was a special city to the Prophet and his early followers, as they sought refuge there from persecution in Mecca when Mohammad began preaching his revelations. This move from Mecca to Medina is called the Hijra—the emigration—and marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar (622 CE=1 AH).

 Tughrul Tower

Name: Masjid al-Nabawi, The Prophet’s Mosque

Material: Lead (dome), stone, marble

Size: Unknown; expanded over years

Date: 622–1817 CE

Place of Origin: Medina, Saudi Arabia

Location: Medina, Saudi Arabia

Source and Registration#:
Wikimedia Commons
(accessed April 30, 2010).  
Attribution: Work of Ali Mansuri
License: Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 (accessed August 17, 2009).

Wadad Kadi

Avalon Foundation Distinguished Service Professor of Islamic Studies, Emerita, Department of Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations, University of Chicago