From my hotel room, I could see the towering minarets of the masjid, each adorned with delicate geometric patterns. Rising high against the backdrop of the sandy mountains, they provided a distinct vertical emphasis to the mosque’s design. The imposing domes, inner courtyards, elegant minarets, and intricate façades all form to create an aura of grandeur and reverence.
But it is the striking green dome, sheltering the tomb of the Prophet, that truly left me in awe. Built in 1837 CE during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan, its commanding presence symbolizes the profound religious significance of this sacred site. Even more intriguing is the Rawdah, an area between the minbar and the Prophet’s burial chamber, which is regarded as one of the Gardens of Paradise, and is a coveted place for Muslims to pray.
Before I knew it, the call to prayer had sounded, and I was rushing, together with the throng of people from foreign lands to the prayer halls. 43 imposing gates, coated in 23-carat gold and weighing over 2.5 tons, welcome worshippers into the prayer halls. Inside the air was cool, mingling with a heavy scent of oud. I sat underneath the striped green arches of the interior and marvelled at the huge domes. It was only when light started pouring into the halls that I realised they were constructed to slide, opening up the courtyard to the skies and allowing cool air to stream in.
As I spent my days in prayer at the Masjid, one of my best-loved experiences was passing through the Medina Haram Piazza, a large open space shaded by 250 umbrellas. Completed in 2010, these shading devices were conceptualised by King Abdullah Abdul Aziz to protect worshippers from the heat of the sun, and from the risk of slipping and falling in the event of rain. They are made of highly durable PTFE white fabric, with Islamic motifs, developed specifically for the project.
