Towering 105-metres above the city of Medina, Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi is one of the largest mosques on the planet. It can accommodate more than half a million worshippers and is regarded as the second holiest site in Islam, outdone only by Mecca’s Masjid al-Haram.
The mosque was originally built by the Islamic Prophet Muhammad himself, and today serves as his final resting place. The mosque sees millions of believers every year to pay their respects. The mosque’s mighty green dome is its most recognisable feature, with soaring white minarets stationed at every corner.
Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi anchors what was once the centre of Medina, with plenty of hotels and traditional markets located nearby. Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport is just a 25-minute drive away by car or taxi. The mosque is busy year-round, but during Hajj millions of people descend on Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi from across the globe.
Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi is ancient, with historians estimating that it was built in 622. After arriving in the city of Medina by camel, it’s said that Muhammad purchased the land off local proprietors who were using it to dry dates. While today the mosque’s proportions are grand, it was originally a humble building made of palm trunks, leaves and beaten clay.