Assalamualaikum.
On our second day in Madinah, our Mutawif, Ustaz Herman, had arranged two ziyarat activities; the Ziyarat around Masjid An-Nabawi and the Badr Battlefield Visit.
Breakfast at the Al Ritz AL Madina Hotel's Al Sukkaria restaurant.
Throughout our five-day stay in Madinah, this was our go-to for every meal, as our Umrah package included full-board catering.
The food was delicious, satisfying, and offered a great variety that perfectly suited our Asian palate. Even during peak hours, the restaurant’s spacious layout provided plenty of seating for everyone.
The place is huge, so there was plenty of room even when it was busy.
The food was great! The buffet had a nice mix of tasty dishes that really hit the spot for us. Alhamdulillah.
At 7:00 am, we were already at the hotel's lobby to start the Ziyarat around Masjid An-Nabawi.
Ustaz Herman brought us to Gate 330 to enter Masjid An-Nabawi.
Hotels are situated extremely close to Masjid An-Nabawi primarily due to the historic urban fabric of Madinah and modern strategic planning designed to accommodate millions of pilgrims.
Historically, the mosque was the heart of the city, surrounded by the homes of the Prophet’s companions and later, dense residential quarters. As the mosque expanded over centuries, these surrounding areas were redeveloped into high-density hospitality zones to minimize travel time for visitors.
Before the significant King Fahd expansion in the mid-1980s, the surrounding area consisted mainly of low-rise houses, but the need to house a growing number of visitors led to the rapid development of surrounding high-rise hotels.
Hotels are built immediately adjacent to Masjid An-Nabawi in Madinah to maximize accommodation capacity for millions of pilgrims, allowing convenient access for prayer and visitation. The surrounding infrastructure is designed for high-density, luxury, and proximity, catering to the need for immediate access to the mosque's perimeter gates.
📘Key Reasons for Proximity:
🔹Pilgrim Convenience: The primary aim is to allow millions of worshippers annually to stay within walking distance, enabling quick entry and exit for the five daily prayers, particularly given the high volume of visitors. The primary goal of urban planning in the "Central Area" is to allow pilgrims to reach the mosque for all five daily prayers with ease. Many hotels are within a 2- to 5-minute walk (some as close as 200–500 meters) from the perimeter gates.
🔹Development of the Central Area: The area immediately surrounding the mosque has been historically developed to accommodate visitors, replacing older, smaller residential structures with high-rise hotels that maximize the footprint, as seen with developments in the mid-90s and later expansions. Modern projects like the Rua Al Madinah Project are specifically designed to add tens of thousands of hotel rooms (up to 47,000) within 1,000 meters of the mosque to support Saudi Vision 2030 goals of hosting 30 million pilgrims.
🔹Separation of Traffic: The area immediately surrounding the gates is designed with a comprehensive pedestrian system. By placing hotels right at the edge of these plazas, planners eliminate the need for vehicles near the mosque, preserving a serene and safe environment for those walking to prayer.
🔹Uniform Design Aesthetic: These hotels, especially those constructed from the mid-90s onwards, were ordered to adopt a specific, similar Islamic aesthetic, often utilizing Al-Rawashin designs to match the surroundings of the Prophet's Mosque.
🔹Height Restrictions: To ensure the mosque and its iconic Green Dome remain the most prominent features of the skyline, hotels in the immediate vicinity often follow strict height and architectural guidelines.
Our ziyarat started as we entered the Northern Courtyard of the masjid. It is widely considered an essential, traditional experience for visitors exploring the historic surroundings of the Prophet's Mosque. The Ziyarat offers not just a tour, but a meditative experience that allows visitors to reflect on the early history of Islam and the sacredness of the city of Madinah.
I noticed that regardless of the hour, Masjid an-Nabawi is always vibrant and filled with pilgrims.
These black folding chairs are commonly found in the courtyards and prayer areas of the Masjid An-Nabawi.
🔹Purpose: They are provided for the convenience of elderly or disabled worshippers who may find it difficult to stand, bow, or prostrate during prayers.
🔹Availability: They are typically stacked in designated areas around pillars or walls, as seen in the image, allowing easy access for those who need them.
🔹Usage: Worshippers can take a chair to use during prayer and return it to the stack afterward.
This is the Guest Care Centers at Masjid An-Nabawi that provide comprehensive, 24/7 support to ensure a comfortable experience for pilgrims, offering services such as multilingual guidance, wheelchair lending, childcare, lost-and-found services, and safety initiatives for elderly and children. They operate as an integrated system in the courtyards to reduce congestion and assist worshippers, especially during peak seasons like Ramadan.
Key functions of the Guest Care Center include:
🔹Wheelchair Service: Provision of free, easily accessible wheelchairs for the elderly and mobility-impaired, located near major gates like 301 and 331.
🔹Lost Person Assistance: Dedicated services for finding lost children and individuals, ensuring they are safely reunited with families.
🔹Safety and Care Initiatives: Issuing safety bracelets for children and the elderly to assist with identification.
🔹Guidance and Information: Offering multilingual support to guide visitors and answer inquiries regarding the mosque.
🔹Nusuk Assistance: Assisting visitors with the "Nusuk" application for organizing rituals, such as visiting the Rawdah.
🔹Operational Support: Assisting with luggage storage and providing logistical help to reduce congestion in the courtyards.
🔹First Aid Access: Providing basic emergency assistance to visitors.
The centers, located on the southern and northern sides of the mosque, are part of the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Prophet’s Mosque's efforts to facilitate worship and enhance the visitor experience.
From the Northern Courtyard, we made our way to the Western Courtyard of the mosque.
We paused here for a moment as Ustaz Herman gave us a brief overview of the Western Courtyard.
This is Saqifah Bani Sa'idah (often referred to as Sokaifat Bani Saedah or the Bani Sa'idah Shelter). It is a historically significant site in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, located just northwest of the Masjid An-Nabawi.
📘Historical Significance
This site is primarily famous for being the location where the Saqifah event occurred immediately after the death of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in 632 CE.
🔹Election of the First Caliph: It was at this shaded gathering place that the companions of the Prophet met to discuss leadership. After intense deliberation between the Ansar (helpers from Madinah) and the Muhajirin (migrants from Makkah), Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq was pledged allegiance (bay'ah) as the first Caliph of Islam.
🔹Political Landmark: It is considered the site of the first major political dialogue in Islamic history, establishing the precedent for Shura (consultation) in leadership selection.
📘Modern Appearance
While the original roofed structure (shelter) of the Banu Sa'idah clan no longer stands, the site has been preserved in a different form:
🔹Public Garden: The area is now a small, lush garden surrounded by a fence.
🔹Location: It is situated a short walk from the Anwar Al Madinah Movenpick Hotel and the Prophet's Mosque courtyard.
🔹Visiting: The garden is often open to the public, particularly after Fajr prayers, though access can occasionally be restricted due to ongoing construction or maintenance in the Masjid An-Nabawi area.
📘Current Status and Updates
🔹Saqifah Bani Sa'idah in Madinah is currently closed due to ongoing rehabilitation, redevelopment, and expansion work, which includes adding new trees, bricks, and flooring to the site.
🔹These improvements are intended to preserve and enhance the historical location near the Prophet's Mosque where Abu Bakr (r.a) was appointed Khalifa.
🔹The site is being upgraded as part of efforts to improve historical sites surrounding the Haram in Madinah. It is undergoing significant rebuilding and renovation as part of a larger project to enhance historical sites around the Prophet's Mosque.
A view of the hotels seen from the Western Courtyard. From right: Anwar Al Madinah Mövenpick (5☆), New ELAF Taiba Hotel (4☆) and Mawaddah Al Safwah Hotel (4☆).
🔹Urban Framing: From the vantage point between the Mövenpick and New ELAF Taiba, Mount Uhud rises clearly in the background. The modern architecture of the hotels and high-rises in the Central Area creates a stark contrast against the ancient, natural landmark. The long, straight street acts as a natural viewfinder, drawing my eyes directly toward the mountain.
🔹Cultural Atmosphere: The foreground captures the daily life of pilgrims and visitors moving between their hotels and Masjid al-Nabawi, highlighting the mountain's role as a constant spiritual and geographical presence in Madinah.
🔹The Backdrop: The massive, rugged ridge of Jabal Uhud dominates the horizon. Its reddish-brown volcanic rock is particularly striking during the "golden hour" (shortly after sunrise), where the light emphasizes the mountain's jagged texture and deep shadows.
🔹Historical Significance: It was the site of the Battle of Uhud (625 CE). While not visible in detail from this distance, the base of the mountain we see is where the Archers' Hill (Jabal al-Rumah) and the Cemetery of Shuhada (Martyrs) are located.
Moving along, we made our way from the Western Courtyard down toward the Southern Courtyard to continue our visit.
Watching the sunrise over Masjid an-Nabawi from the Western Courtyard that morning was absolutely breathtaking.
That is Mias Hotel Madinah (also known as Mias Al Madina Hotel), a 4-star hotel. It is located approximately 600 meters to 1.3 km from Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (the Prophet's Mosque), providing convenient access for pilgrims and visitors.
Other hotels that can be seen from this Western Courtyard are Emaar Maktan Hotel (3☆), Al Aqiq Al Rawda Hotel (4☆), Diyar Al Taqwa (2☆) and Taba Al Salam Hotel (3☆).
Having a range of star-rated hotels near Masjid an-Nabawi is crucial to accommodate the diverse budgetary, comfort, and accessibility needs of millions of pilgrims visiting Medina. This variety ensures that visitors—from budget-conscious to luxury seekers—can find comfortable, close-proximity lodging.
This is Alsalam Museum.
🔹The Al-Salam Museum in Madinah, located near the Prophet's Mosque, is currently closed due to comprehensive redevelopment and construction work as of early 2026, often cited as being under a renovation or expansion project. It is being redeveloped to enhance its presentation of Islamic history.
🔹Alternatives: Visitors looking for similar content are often directed to the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization (located near the Prophet's Mosque) or the Dar Al Madinah Museum.
🔹Context: The Al-Salam Museum was formerly intended to be a major 17,400 cultural venue detailing the history of the Prophet's Mosque, but its physical location has been affected by ongoing city development.
🔹Disclaimer: Information regarding the specific reopening date of the Al-Salam Museum is not currently public, as it is part of the long-term city development initiatives, often linked to the Rua Al Madinah Project.
Visible from the courtyard are the Masjid Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (right) and Mosque of Al-Ghamama (left). At the background are the Millennium Taiba Hotel (3☆) on the left and the Sama Daimond hotel (3☆) on the right.
The are several clock towers located in the vicinity of Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina, such as the prominent landmark at the Clock Roundabout near King Fahd Gate, serve several key purposes for pilgrims and visitors:
🔹Timekeeping for Worship: The primary purpose is to provide an easy-to-read, central timepiece for worshippers, allowing them to keep track of prayer times, particularly for adjusting their schedules during Hajj or Umrah.
🔹Landmark and Orientation: These towers serve as iconic, towering landmarks that help pilgrims navigate the area around the Prophet's Mosque.
🔹Cultural and Aesthetic Value: They are designed to fit the aesthetic of the holy city, serving as popular meeting points and spots for photography.
🔹Announcement of Prayer: Similar to the larger Makkah Clock Tower, clock towers in Madinah assist in signaling the five daily prayers (Adhan).
Masjid Abu Bakr As-Siddiq is a historically significant, active mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia, located approximately 145 meters southwest of the Prophet’s Mosque (Masjid an-Nabawi). It marks the site where Prophet Muhammad ﷺ historically performed Eid prayers. The current structure is a modern, 13th-century AH restoration, often associated with the area of Al-Manakhah.
Key Details About Masjid Abu Bakr As-Siddiq
🔹Significance: It is named after the first Caliph, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (RA), and marks the location where he performed Eid prayers during his leadership.
🔹Location: The mosque is situated in Medina, near the Al-Ghamamah Mosque and just a short walk from Masjid an-Nabawi.
🔹Architecture: The mosque is designed with traditional Islamic elements, featuring a simple, smaller structure with a single dome.
🔹History: The first, earlier building is believed to have been established during the Ummayyad era during the reign of Omar bin Abdulaziz.
🔹Visitor Guidelines: It is an active place of prayer and worship.
🔹Visitors often stop at this site while visiting the nearby Prophet's Mosque and other historic landmarks in the area.
Carpets in the outdoor courtyards of Masjid An-Nabawi are maintained through a rigorous 24/7 system involving daily sterilization, scenting, and high-tech tracking. Specialized field teams use RFID technology embedded in over 25,000 carpets—including those in the courtyards—to monitor, clean, and replace them based on usage density and wear.
The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques oversees this process to ensure a clean, comfortable environment for worship in the outdoor areas.
Key maintenance details:
🔹RFID Tracking: Each carpet has a smart chip to track its location and cleaning schedule.
🔹Daily Maintenance: Carpets are cleaned, sterilized, and perfumed daily.
🔹Replacement & Cleaning: Field teams regularly remove used carpets for washing and replace them with clean ones.
🔹Intensive Care: The carpets are specially designed for high durability and comfort.
This area next to the Alsalam Museum was formerly the site of the Madinah Old Bazaar.
🔹The Old Bazaar (Souq) near Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah is a historic shopping area, with some areas tracing their roots back to the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
🔹Located just minutes from the Prophet’s Mosque, particularly near gates 6 and 20, it is a bustling, traditional market offering dates, clothes, and souvenirs.
Here, Ustaz Herman made another stop for a few more overviews of some of the historical landmarks within the vicinity of the mosque.
This is the Gate 314 and 315 for entering the Southern Courtyard.
Behind the Al-Salam Museum there are several wall photos of the Masjid an-Nabawi including a 360-panorama photo of the Raudhah (The Garden), often referred to as Ar-Rawdah al-Sharifah (The Noble Garden). Here Ustaz Herman gave us a short briefing about the sacred area located inside the Masjid an-Nabawi.
Before entering the Southern Courtyard, Ustaz took us the area near the Mosque of Al-Ghamama, i.e the Souq Al-Manakhah.
Souq Al-Manakhah is a historic market located just west of Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah, traditionally established by Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) as a free, tax-exempt trading zone. As one of the earliest public markets in Islamic history, it remains a bustling area for purchasing local dates, spices, textiles, and traditional souvenirs.
Key Aspects of Souq Al-Manakhah:
🔹Historical Significance: Established by the Prophet (ﷺ) shortly after his migration to Medina, it was chosen as an open area to provide a fair, unregulated space for trade.
🔹Location: Located on the western/southwestern side of the Prophet's Mosque, within walking distance (7–15 minutes) of the main courtyard.
🔹Products: The market is known for selling authentic Medinan goods, including dates, spices, perfumes, abayas, and handmade, traditional handicrafts.
🔹Modern Experience: While modernized, the area retains its cultural essence and is adjacent to historic sites like the Al-Ghamamah Mosque, where the Prophet (ﷺ) used to hold Eid prayers.
🔹Best Time to Visit: Early mornings (after Fajr) or late afternoons are recommended for a calmer, less crowded shopping experience.
The market offers visitors a unique blend of spiritual atmosphere and cultural heritage, operating in the heart of modern Madinah while maintaining its ancient roots.
Another stop with briefing by Ustaz Herman.
This street map is named Al Naqah (Arabic for "the she-camel") because it is located in a historical district of Madinah associated with the arrival of the Prophet Muhammad SAW.
The name commemorates the Prophet's she-camel, Al-Qaswa, who played a pivotal role in choosing the site for the first mosque:
🔹Divine Guidance: Upon the Prophet's arrival in Medina (then Yathrib) in 622 CE, many families invited him to stay with them. He told the people to let his camel go her way, as she was "under the command of Allah".
🔹Choosing the Site: Al-Qaswa eventually stopped and knelt down in a large courtyard owned by two orphans, Sahal and Suhayl.
🔹Foundation of Masjid Nabawi: This specific spot, chosen by the camel, became the foundation for Masjid an-Nabawi (the Prophet’s Mosque), which is the central feature of the map you see.
The map is part of a modern navigation system in Madinah that uses these historical names to help pilgrims and visitors identify different sectors around the Holy Mosque.
Mosque of Al-Ghamama / AlMusalla Mosque - AlGhamama.
The history.
I’ve seen the Mosque of Al-Ghamama from a distance during my previous Umrah trips, so being this close this time, I took the chance to finally visit it.
The Mosque of Al-Ghamama (Masjid al-Ghamama) is primarily a historical, preserved site rather than an active, daily prayer mosque. Located near Masjid an-Nabawi, it is often closed, allowing pilgrims to visit for its historical significance rather than regular prayer.
Inside the mosque.
Key Details About Masjid Al-Ghamama:
🔹Active Status: It is generally not used for daily, five-time prayers because of its close proximity to the Prophet's Mosque (Masjid an-Nabawi).
🔹Historical Significance: It is believed to be the spot where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) performed Eid and funeral prayers, as well as the Salatul Istisqa (prayer for rain).
🔹Access: While sometimes closed for entrance, it remains a major attraction for visitors exploring the historic sites of Madinah.
🔹Renovation: It was built during the time of Caliph Umar ibn Abd Al-Aziz and has been restored in the Ottoman style.
Visitors frequently stop by this site, which is just 500 meters from the Prophet's Mosque, to witness the place where historical events took place.
Standing within those ancient stone arches, I was overcome with a deep sense of reverence. It went straight to my heart to realize I was in the very same hall where my beloved Prophet (PBUH) once stood, petitioning Allah for the good of the Ummah. Being there—not just looking from a distance, but feeling the cool air and the quiet dignity of the prayer hall—made his legacy feel more real and closer than ever.
Next, we entered the Southern Courtyard of the Masjid an-Nabawi via Gate 315.
Another short stop for briefing.
This marked the end of our ziyarat around Masjid an-Nabawi. After a quick wrap-up, Ustaz Herman reminded us of our next activity: a visit to the Badr Battlefield, scheduled for after Zuhr prayer.
Since it was only about 9:00 am and we had plenty of time before the Badr Battlefield trip, Ustaz Herman suggested we walk back to the hotel on our own. He encouraged us to take the opportunity to explore the areas around Masjid an-Nabawi by walking from the Southern Courtyard through to the Northern Courtyard (near Gate 333) via the Eastern Courtyard.
The Green Dome.
As we walked through the Southern Courtyard of Masjid an-Nabawi, we passed the designated entry points for male and female pilgrims entering Rawdah.
In the courtyard, plastic and metal barricades are set up to cordon off the entry area, guiding pilgrims into orderly queues to ensure smooth movement toward the Rawdah—men through Gate 37 and women through Gates 39.
In the courtyard, groups of women pilgrims gathered beneath one of the mosque’s Piazza shading umbrellas, patiently waiting for their turn to pass through the entry checkpoints. Pilgrims who have booked a visit to the Rawdah are advised to arrive early and queue in groups according to the time slot stated on their permit issued via the Nusuk App.
From the Southern Courtyard we continued through the Eastern Courtyard and entered the Northern Courtyard, where Gate 333 stands—the nearest exit from the mosque to our hotel.
Before returning to our hotel, my wife and I chose to perform sunnah prayers inside Masjid an-Nabawi rather than in the carpeted outdoor courtyard. I entered through Gate 21, while my wife entered via Gate 24, which was open for women at that hour.
Stepping inside was like entering another world, a much calmer world. The hushed silence and cool air were such a peaceful contrast to the constant hum of the busy courtyard outside. It gave me a moment to truly appreciate the stunning architecture, from the intricate gold details to the towering arches that make the prayer hall feel so majestic yet intimate.
A quick stop at the Zamzam station for a drink.
After our Sunnah prayers, my wife and I met at Gate 333. We began the easy walk back to the Al Ritz Al Madina hotel along King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Road. Since we were pretty hungry, we grabbed a quick McDonald's takeaway for lunch, along with some donuts and a cup of that famously delicious Karak Tea at Dunkin' Donuts to fuel the rest of our day.
On the way, we made a quick pit stop at the City Sightseeing Madinah bus stop to check out the routes. We also made sure to scout out the electric cart station, since we’re planning to head over to Quba Mosque tomorrow. It was the perfect end to a busy, spiritual morning.
Bottled water placed in boxes around Masjid an-Nabawi's streets and shopping lanes is a common form of Sadaqah (charity) provided by donors for pilgrims. These bottles, often containing Zamzam water or regular drinking water, are available for free, with specific labeling identifying Zamzam.
🔹Availability: These charity packs are distributed daily, especially during times of high congregation, as the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) noted that giving water is a superior form of charity.
🔹Source of Water: Many individuals buy cases of bottled water from nearby supermarkets like Bin Dawood and simply leave them in public areas for anyone to take.
🔹Purpose: These boxes are specifically intended for pilgrims and workers to stay hydrated, especially during the high heat of the afternoon.
🔹Speed of Distribution: Bottles often disappear within minutes due to the high volume of people and the widespread appreciation for the gesture.
🔹Zamzam vs. Regular Water: While Zamzam water is often found in containers inside the mosque or in specially labeled bottles, regular water is also frequently distributed as sadaqah in the surrounding, warmer areas.
🔹Signage: Look for labels that say “سقيا زمزم” (Watering of Zamzam) to identify bottles containing Zamzam water.
🔹Convenience: These donations are part of the broader efforts to ensure pilgrims have access to hydration, complementing the massive distribution of Zamzam water conducted by the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Prophet's Mosque in The Malaysian Reserve.
To be continued.
Till the next coming entry, inshaAllah. Meanwhile do take care.
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