The construction of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah began immediately after the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ arrived in the city during the Hijrah in 622 CE. When the Prophet ﷺ reached Yathrib—later known as Madinah—he stayed at Quba’ for a few days, then continued toward the city. As his camel, Al-Qaswā’, advanced through the streets, it stopped at a plot of land belonging to two orphan boys, Sahl and Suhayl. The Prophet ﷺ declared that this would be the site of the new mosque. Although the boys offered the land as a gift, he insisted on purchasing it, establishing from the very beginning the principle that sacred spaces should be built on rightful ownership.
The first construction of the mosque was simple yet full of purpose. The Prophet ﷺ personally participated, carrying bricks and encouraging the companions. The structure was built from mud bricks, with walls around 100 cubits long on each side according to early reports. Date-palm trunks served as pillars, and the roof was made of palm branches coated with mud, giving minimal shade and no full protection from rain. The floor was plain earth. The mosque had three main entrances and originally no minbar; the Prophet ﷺ would lean against a palm trunk when addressing the companions before a pulpit was later added.
One corner of the mosque was dedicated to the Ahl al-Suffah, a group of companions who devoted themselves to learning and worship, making the mosque not just a place of prayer but a center for Islamic education, governance, social support, and community organization. During this early period, the mosque functioned as the heart of the Muslim community, hosting delegations, resolving disputes, and serving as a shelter for the needy.
Shortly after the Battle of Khaybar, the mosque underwent its first expansion due to the increasing number of Muslims. The Prophet ﷺ led this renovation as well, | REAB
