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from any place therein. In general, the renovation of all
that is connected with the life of the Prophet, peace be
upon him, is continuing in full swing all the time. Thus,
a newcomer to Medina senses the subtle presence of the
Prophet, peace be upon him, everywhere.
I have already talked about Qiba Mosque which was
built at the entrance of Medina (at the time the whole city
occupied a small area and was surrounded by a citadel
wall that had four gates and there were two intercrossing
streets that ended there). At this location, there rises now
a lofty Mosque built of white stone in Islamic style. It has
62 domes and is crowned with four decorated minarets
rising 42 meters high. There is a roof that can be opened
when needed and that protects the internal section against
the hot sun. This Mosque extends over an area of more
than four thousand five hundred square meters and can
accommodate 20 thousand pilgrims. It is also surrounded
by beautiful parks and a thicket of palm trees.
This Holy City does not form part of the pilgrimage
rites, though the Prophet peace be upon him, encouraged
Muslims to visit it. Hence, throughout the year, the streets
abound with visitors who are eager to visit all the holy
places associated with the noble Prophet, peace be upon
him, and with the history of Islam, and to offer prayers
therein.
The Mosque of the two qiblas is unique in that it has
two qiblas. It is well known that during the early days
of Islam the qibla was directed towards Jerusalem. Then
the Prophet was ordered, while praying at this Mosque,
to turn towards Mecca in his prayer. Ever since then all
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Muslims turn towards the Holy Kaaba in Mecca five times
a day during their prayer. Thus the second, or rather the
first qibla, was kept at this Mosque as a memory of times
past. But in other mosques, the qiblas that were in the
direction of Jerusalem were demolished .
There is another interesting Mosque “The Ghamama”
(Cloud) where the Prophet used to pray very often,
especially when invoking God Almighty to send rain.
At the “Jumaa” (Congregation)) Mosque, the Prophet
called believers for the first time to offer congregational
prayer. The “Miqat” Mosque was built in the holy valley
where the Prophet stopped to change his clothes and don
the special pilgrimage garb (two white pieces of cloth).
After being repaired, it was transformed into a gathering
place that occupies 88 thousand square meters and can
accommodate five thousand believers. This Mosque is
also unique like the other mosques.
As to the Prophet’s Mosque, it underwent great repairs
and extensions and was equipped with unmatched comfort
facilities anywhere in the world. These were the outcome
of intensive and elaborate work undertaken by leading
construction companies from many countries. It should be
pointed out that Western engineers, who are not allowed
in the city, supervised the work from a distance outside the
city by using the most up-to-date communication devices.
A documentary film has been prepared showing all stages
of this unique undertaking.
The Prophet’s Mosque complex occupies an area
of 170 hectares, which equal the area of the whole city
during the life of the Prophet, peace be upon him. It can
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accommodate one million believers at one and the same
time. Such huge multitudes can enter and leave through
its wide gates without any congestion problems. It also
contains 18 elevators (lifts) that enable visitors to go up
and down the roof for prayer. Communication roads were
built through a seven kilometer long tunnel to ensure
the functioning of emergency systems, the distribution
of sound, the extinguishing of fires, ventilation and air-
conditioning. All over the 82 thousand square meters of
the ground floor there are the most up-to-date electronic
equipment, including computers. The unique audio
equipment permit a balanced audio system that is free of
echoes and without time gaps throughout the various parts
of the floor building. The fire-fighting equipment are no
less perfect.
Underneath the main plaza, there are parking lots for
four thousand cars. Attached to the Mosque are 5600
washbasins, 18,900 toilets and 690 drinking water faucets.
There are also 134 elevators (lifts) that facilitate the
rapid movement of believers, specially during extremely
crowded periods. I cannot omit mentioning the huge
umbrellas that are installed on the roof to provide shade and
protect the believers from the hot sun. These are operated
mechanically and can be opened and closed at will. There
are also 27 squares for prayer. These are provided quite
an architectural innovation! Imagine ـwith mobile domes
that you can now push a button and you move a ceiling
dome that is beautifully decorated, as though you were
opening the cover of a box.
My decision to give all these statistics is not prompted
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by a desire to show off, but is simply to enable the reader
to appreciate the colossal installations, transformations
and funds that have been spent on them during the last ten
years. Such spending amounted to 70 billion Saudi Riyals
(equivalent to US$ 18.7 billion!)
The Prophet’s Mosque was re-built several times
throughout its long history. It caught fire in the Thirteenth
and Fifteenth Centuries. But each time it was diligently
re-built. Today, however, it is a majestic building overlaid
with light colored granite stone. It has graceful minarets of
white marble which are crowned with golden crescents. Its
rigid looking front reflects the austerity and simplicity of
the Prophet, peace be upon him, and is not as magnificent
as the Holy Mosque in Mecca. The plaza round the
Mosque is glossy and reflects the image of the Mosque
like a mirror. It looks like a natural continuation of the
Mosque. It is in fact a stone tapestry and so glossy that it
reflects, like a mirror, the minutest of details, including the
endless rows of electric lamps that are erected all over the
Mosque’s plazas. In fact, they should not be referred to as
electric lamps; they are rather 10 to 12 meter-high granite
works of art that are decorated with stone engravings and
inlaid with sky-blue crystal glass.
The inside of the Mosque exhibits exquisite artistic
splendor and refined taste. I will not describe the decorated
ceilings, the graceful arcs, the unique chandeliers, the
interlaced windows. The usual attributes and descriptions
will not do. One needs to be a specialist to give an accurate
description of the inside of the Mosque. The reader will
somehow, but not completely, appreciate this from the
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