Masjid an-Nabawi
Complete Guide: History & Visit Tips 2026

When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ arrived in Madinah in 622 CE after the Hijra, his camel Qaswa knelt at a plot of land owned by two orphan boys. The Prophet ﷺ purchased this land and began constructing the mosque with his own hands alongside his companions. The original structure was simple — palm trunks as pillars and palm fronds as a roof — yet it became the center of the emerging Islamic civilization.

Over centuries, caliphs including Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan, and later the Umayyad, Abbasid, Mamluk, and Ottoman rulers each expanded and beautified the mosque. The greatest modern expansions were initiated by the Saudi government in 1955 and continuing into the 21st century, transforming it into a mosque capable of accommodating over a million worshippers.

The Green Dome (Al-Qubbah Al-Khadra)

The iconic green dome rises above the burial chamber of the Prophet ﷺ, his two companions Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (R.A) and Umar ibn al-Khattab (R.A) are also buried nearby. The dome was originally built by the Mamluk Sultan Qalawun in 1279 CE. It was painted green in the Ottoman era in 1837 CE, a color it has retained ever since. Seeing the green dome for the first time is a deeply emotional moment for most pilgrims.

What to Do Inside Masjid an-Nabawi

• Offer Salah (prayers) in the main prayer hall — one prayer here equals 1,000 prayers elsewhere.
• Visit the Rawdah al-Sharif — book via the Nusuk app for a time slot.
• Send Salawat (blessings) on the Prophet ﷺ near the burial chamber.
• Visit Jannat al-Baqi cemetery through the mosque's eastern gate.
• Attend the five daily congregational prayers led by world-class imams.

Visitor Etiquette & Rules

• Dress modestly — full modest clothing for men; abaya/jilbab + hijab for women.
• Keep voices very low, especially near the Prophet's ﷺ burial area.
• Photography is only allowed in outdoor courtyards, not in main prayer halls.
• Enter with right foot first and recite the du'a for entering the mosque.
• Follow instructions from security personnel without hesitation.