The Seven Mosques

The Seven Mosques
المساجد السبعة
Religion
AffiliationIslam
Location
LocationMedina, Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates24°28′36.6″N 39°35′45.5″E / 24.476833°N 39.595972°E / 24.476833; 39.595972
Architecture
TypeMosque

The Seven Mosques (Arabic: المساجد السبعة, romanized: al-Masājid al-Saʿba) is a complex of six small historic and often visited mosques in the city of Medina, Saudi Arabia. Despite only consisting of six mosques, the complex is called seven because some think it originally consisted of seven mosques.[1][2] Another reason for the name is that many visitors usually visit Masjid Al-Qiblatayn among these mosques on their visit to Medina, making it seven.[2][3] Some also consider Masjid al-Khandaq to be among one of those seven mosques.[1][2][4]

History

The mosques here are linked to the Battle of the Trench (Ghazwat al-Khandaq), also known as the Battle of the Confederates (Ghazwat al-Ahzab). Muslims defending Medina were in these mosques and each mosque is named after the person who was stationed there.[3]

These mosques are located in south of Mount Sela which was the scene of the Battle of the Trench.[2]

Mosques in the complex

Al-Fath Mosque

This is the largest mosque of all, and it is located beneath of Mount Sala' on the western part. It is narrated that this mosque is named as "Al-Fath" due to the account of the prophet praying here during the Battle of the Trench, and the battle ended in Muslim victory (in Arabic, "Fath" or "Fatah" means "conquest" in Islamic context). The mosque was built during the time of the Caliph Umar bin Abdul Aziz, and renovated by the minister Saifuddin Abu al-Hija in 1154 during the time of the Sharifate of Mecca.

Salman Al-Farsi Mosque

An old photo of the Salman Al Farsi Mosque, one of the seven mosques

Located 20 meters south of Al-Fath Mosque, named after Salman Al-Farsi who led the construction of trenches during the Battle of the Trench. The mosque is built during the time of Caliph Umar bin Abdul Aziz, and renovated by the minister Saifuddin Abu al-Hija in 1154 during the time of the Sharifate of Mecca.

Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque

It is located 15 meters southeast of Salman Al-Farsi Mosque. These three mosques (Al-Fath Mosque, Salman Al-Farsi Mosque and Abu Bakr As-Siddiq Mosque) were demolished and renovated into one mosque with wider space.

Umar bin Khattab Mosque

It is located 10 meters south of Abu Bakar As-Siddiq Mosque. This mosque is situated on higher altitude, and its look is corresponding to Al-Fath Mosque, thus it is considered that they were built and renovated at the same time.

Ali bin Abu Talib Mosque

Located in the south of Fathimah Az-Zahra Mosque on a small hill. This mosque has a length of 8.5 meters and width of 6.5 meters. It is narrated that Ali joined the Battle of the Trench here. Today, local government of Medina is renovating this mosque while maintaining the original shape, and building a large park surrounding it as a decoration of the small building.

Fatimah Az-Zahra Mosque

It is a small mosque attached to the others, with area of 4x3 meters. This mosque was built in the Ottoman period of the Hejaz Vilayet during the reign of Sultan Abdulmejid I.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Seven Mosques (Madinah).

References

  1. ^ a b "Seven Mosques (al-Masajid as-Sab'a) - Madain Project (en)". madainproject.com. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  2. ^ a b c d Ahmed, Uzair (2022-08-23). "The Seven Mosques | Al-Masjid Al-Sab |". The Pilgrim. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  3. ^ a b "What's the story of the Seven Mosques which pilgrims visit in Medina?". Al Arabiya News.
  4. ^ "Al-Khandaq Mosque, a Historical Landmark Visited Throughout the Year". spa.gov.sa. Retrieved 2024-06-23.