Source : Arab News | 16 Aug 2012

Al-Madinah Al-Munawwara is a place of historic and spiritual density. The landmarks that mark this landscape are so numerous they can hardly be mentioned. Yet each and every mosque and field of this holy sanctuary symbolize an event in Islamic history that is too significant to let pass.

Beyond the Prophetic Mosque — initially built by the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself and one of the largest mosques in the world with a capacity of up to 1 million people during the Haj season — there are over 30 mosques where the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his companions, prayed in Madinah.

The Masjid Al-Juma is where the prophet (peace be upon him) prayed his first Friday congregational after he left the Quba village for Madinah.

It was also known as the Bani Salim Mosque and the Wadi Mosque as the area was part of the Wadi Al-Ranouna. Another name for the very same mosque is Atikah mosque, the Saudi Press Agency reported yesterday.

Of staunch significance is the Al-Qiblatain mosque, which stands in the Bani Salma village. Traditions hold that it is from this mosque that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was ordered to turn to the Kaaba as the direction of prayers.

The word “Qiblatain” means two prayer directions. It was in this mosque that the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his followers, who started the prayer facing the “Beit Al-Maqdis” in Jerusalem, changed their direction in the midst of their prayer to the Kaaba following a revelation of a verse. Masjid Al-Fatah is one of the group of mosques known as “the Seven Mosques” which include the Salman Al-Farsi, Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, Umar bin Khattab, Ali bin Abi Talib and Saad bin Muadh mosques. Another ancient mosque is the Sajdah (Prostration) mosque. It was where the Prophet (PBUH) made a lengthy prostration of thanks. The Al-Suqya mosque is close to an ancient well and now within the walls of an abandoned railway station.

The Al-Sheikhain mosque is located on the road between Madinah and Uhud Mountain and its historical importance lies in the fact that Muslim soldiers camped the night there before the Battle of Uhud against Abu Sufyan’s Makkan forces took place. Another famous ancient mosque is Masjid Al-Ijabah or Banu Muawiyah situated north of the Al-Baqee graveyard.

The Dhul Hulaifah Mosque, where the Prophet (peace be upon him) sat under a tree, carries other names such as Masjid Al-Shajarah, Masjid Al-Ihram, and Masjid Abyar Ali.