May 7, 2016

Riadul Jannah and Mehrab of Masjid Ea Nabwi

The area between the Sacred Chamber and the Pulpit (Mimbar) is known as the Riadul Jannah i.e. Garden of Paradise. It is presently distinguished by a green carpet and is also referred to as Rawza Shareef.

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Great Allah Pak Be Pleased With Him) Narrated that the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam said: Between my house and my pulpit lays a garden from the gardens of Paradise, and my pulpit is upon my fountain (Al-Kauthar).” [Bukhari Sharif]

Riadul Jannah and Mehrab of Masjid Ea Nabwi
Riadul Jannah and Mehrab of Masjid Ea Nabwi
Scholars have interpreted the above narration as follows: The Garden is parallel to a garden above it in Paradise. Or it is in reality a garden of paradise, which will be returned to paradise in the hereafter. Or it is like the gardens of paradise, because the peace and tranquility which is experienced in it when engaged in the remembrance of Great Allah Pak Resembles that of paradise. [Akhbar Madina tur Rasool, Ibn Najjar]

The original size Is approximately 22 meters in length and 15 meters in width, part of it is in the chamber of the Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam.

Mehrab (Prayer Niche):

Mehrab (Prayer Niche):
Mehrab (Prayer Niche):
The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam prayed for about 16 months facing towards Al-Quds in Jerusalem on his arrival in Madina Sharif. If one was to walk away from the ‘Aisha Siddika Alaihas Salam column’, leaving it towards your back, the fifth column will be in line with the door marked as Bab-e-Jibraeel Alaihis Salam. This fifth column was the approximate praying spot of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam for the above period. It was near to the extreme north boundary of the original mosque.

After the change in Qibla, the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam offered Salah near Aisha Siddika Alaihas Salam’s column for a short period while facing towards the Ka’bah. Later he started leading Salaat at the spot where the Mehrab Nabwi is nowadays. Note that there was no mehrab at this spot during the period of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam and the four Caliphs. 

In 91 AH, Umar bin Abdul Aziz made a praying niche in the form of a Mehrab. Since then it is called Mehrab Nabwi. If you were to stand in the Mehrab for offering Salah, your place of Sajda will be where Prophet’s Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam feet used to be. The Prophet’s Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam place of Sajda is intentionally covered by the thick wall of the Mehrab.

Mimbar (Pulpit):

Mimbar (Pulpit):
The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam used to lean against the trunk of a palm tree when he was tired or exhausted while delivering a sermon. The Ansar humbly suggested to him, “If you approve, we can make a pulpit for you.” The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam approved it and a pulpit was made. Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam sat on this pulpit to make an address. When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) started using the new pulpit, the old tree yearned for him like a camel missing its calf. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam hugged the trunk until it had calmed down and then ordered that a ditch be dug and the trunk buried decently into it.

The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam used to stand on the third rung while delivering his sermons. When Abu Bakr (May Great Allah Be Pleased Upon Him) became caliph, he stood on the second rung and Umar bin Khattab (May Great Allah Be Pleased Upon Him) stood on the first. Caliph Usman bin Affan (May Great Allah Be Pleased Upon Him) did as Umar (May Great Allah Be Pleased Upon Him) had done for six years before he returned to the old position of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam. Amir Muawiyyah (May Great Allah Pak Be Pleased With Him) made a pulpit consisting of nine rungs. The leaders started sitting on the seventh rung. The pulpit has since been kept in this form and the Khateeb has been sitting on the seventh rung since that time.

The pulpit has been replaced on many occasions throughout the centuries. The present pulpit was put up by Sultan Murad in 998 AH.

Mimbar (Pulpit):
Mimbar (Pulpit):
References: History of Madina Munawwarah Sharif – Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani, Wikipedia History of Madina – Ali Hafiz
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Item Reviewed: Riadul Jannah and Mehrab of Masjid Ea Nabwi Rating: 5 Reviewed By: Rajib Khaja Official
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