It is believed to be the mosque which the Quran mentions as being founded on piety and devoutness (Masjid al-Taqwa)[19]
There are also those ˹hypocrites˺ who set up a mosque ˹only˺ to cause harm, promote disbelief, divide the believers, and as a base for those who had previously fought against Allah and His Messenger. They will definitely swear, “We intended nothing but good,” but Allah bears witness that they are surely liars. Do not ˹O Prophet˺ ever pray in it. Certainly, a mosque founded on righteousness from the first day is more worthy of your prayers. In it are men who love to be purified. And Allah loves those who purify themselves.
The mosque is among the earliest mosques in Medina and was built by Sawad ibn Ghanam ibn Ka’ab al-Ansari in the Islamic year 2 AH,[1] and the name of the mosque goes back to the lifetime of Muhammad, when his companions named it after an event that took place on the 15th of Sha’baan the same year, when Muhammad received revelation from Allah instructing him to take the Kaaba as the qibla during the Dhuhr prayer, instead of Baytul Maqdis, which was the Masjid Al Aqsa in Jerusalem.[9] He later announced this to his companions in his own mosque, after which the news began to spread. Many pilgrims who go to Mecca for Hajj often visit Medina, where some visit this mosque because of its historical significance.[1]
Indeed, We see you ˺O Prophet˺ turning your face towards heaven. Now We will make you turn towards a ˺direction of prayer˺ that will please you. So turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque ˺in Mecca˺—wherever you are, turn your faces towards it. Those who were given the Scripture certainly know this to be the truth from their Lord. And Allah is never unaware of what they do. – Quran 2:144 (translated by Mustafa Khattab)[10]
A hadith from Sahih Bukhari[11] says: Narrated Ibn Umar: While some people were offering Fajr prayer at Quba’ (mosque), some-one came to them and said, “Tonight some Qur’anic Verses have been revealed to the Prophet and he has been ordered to face the Kaaba (during prayers), so you too should turn your faces towards it.” At that time their faces were towards Shaam (Jerusalem) so they turned towards the Kaaba (at Mecca).
This is the largest mosque of all, and it is located beneath of Mount Sala’ on the western part. It is narrated that this mosque is named as “Al-Fath” due to the account of the prophet praying here during the Battle of the Trench, and the battle ended in Muslim victory (in Arabic, “Fath” or “Fatah” means “conquest” in Islamic context). The mosque was built during the time of the Caliph Umar bin Abdul Aziz, and renovated by the minister Saifuddin Abu al-Hija in 1154 during the time of the Sharifate of Mecca.
An old photo of the Salman Al Farsi Mosque, one of the seven mosques Located 20 meters south of Al-Fath Mosque, named after Salman Al-Farsi who led the construction of trenches during the Battle of the Trench. The mosque is built during the time of Caliph Umar bin Abdul Aziz, and renovated by the minister Saifuddin Abu al-Hija in 1154 during the time of the Sharifate of Mecca.
It is located 15 meters southeast of Salman Al-Farsi Mosque. These three mosques (Al-Fath Mosque, Salman Al-Farsi Mosque and Abu Bakr As-Siddiq Mosque) were demolished and renovated into one mosque with wider space.
It is located 10 meters south of Abu Bakar As-Siddiq Mosque. This mosque is situated on higher altitude, and its look is corresponding to Al-Fath Mosque, thus it is considered that they were built and renovated at the same time.
Located in the south of Fathimah Az-Zahra Mosque on a small hill. This mosque has a length of 8.5 meters and width of 6.5 meters. It is narrated that Ali joined the Battle of the Trench here. Today, local government of Medina is renovating this mosque while maintaining the original shape, and building a large park surrounding it as a decoration of the small building.
It is a small mosque attached to the others, with area of 4×3 meters. This mosque was built in the Ottoman period of the Hejaz Vilayet during the reign of Sultan Abdulmejid
Mount Uhud (Arabic: جَبَل أُحُد, romanized: Jabal Uḥud, Hejazi Arabic pronunciation: [dʒa.bal ʔʊ.ħʊd]) is a mountain north of Medina, in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia. It is 1,077 m (3,533 ft) high and 7.5 km (4.7 mi) long. It was the site of the second battle between the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the polytheists of his tribe of Quraysh. The Battle of Uhud was fought on 19 March, 625 CE, between a force from the small Muslim community of Medina and a force from Mecca, in north-western Arabia.
Battle of Uhud
Campaigns of Muhammad
The battle was fought on March 19, 625 CE (3 Shawwal 3 AH in the Islamic calendar) at the valley located in front of Mount Uhud, in what is now northwestern Arabia.[1] It occurred between a force from the Muslim community of Medina led by Muhammad, and a force led by Abu Sufyan ibn Harb from Mecca, the town from which many of the Muslims had previously emigrated. The Battle of Uḥud was the second military encounter between the Meccans and the Muslims, preceded by the Battle of Badr in 624, where a small Muslim army had defeated the much larger Meccan army.
Marching out from Mecca towards Medina on March 11, 625, the Meccans desired to avenge their losses at Badr and strike back at Muhammad and his followers. The Muslims readied for war soon afterward and the two armies fought on the slopes and plains of Mount ‘Uḥud.
Whilst heavily outnumbered, the Muslims gained the early initiative and forced the Meccan lines back, thus leaving much of the Meccan camp unprotected. When the battle looked to be only one step far from a decisive Muslim victory, a serious mistake was committed by a part of the Muslim army, which shifted the outcome of the battle. A breach of Muhammad’s orders by the Muslim archers, who left their assigned posts to despoil the Meccan camp, allowed a surprise attack from the Meccan cavalry, led by Meccan war veteran Khalid ibn al-Walid, which brought chaos to the Muslim ranks. Many Muslims were killed, including Hamza ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib, Muhammad’s uncle and foster brother. Muhammad himself got injured. The Muslims had to withdraw up the slopes of ‘Uḥud. The Meccans did not pursue the Muslims further, but marched back to Mecca declaring victory. The two armies would meet again in 627 at the Battle of the Trench.[2]
Sayyid Ash-Shuhada Mosque
The mosque faces Mount Rumat, a small hill located to the west of Mount Uhud. The Uhud Martyr’s Square, along with the landmarks it contains, can be seen from the top of the hill
The Sayed Al-Shuhada Mosque is an important site in Islamic history as it tells the story of the Battle of Uhud, which took place during the third Hijri year.
It is also located next to the cemetery of 70 martyrs of Prophet Muhammad’s companions, about three kilometers away from the northern square of the Prophet’s Mosque.
The mosque was completed in April of 2017 and features a unique architectural style. It covers an area of 54,000 square meters and can accommodate up to 15,000 worshippers. Supporting services and facilities can be found outside the site.
The mosque faces Mount Rumat, a small hill located to the west of Mount Uhud. The Uhud Martyr’s Square, along with the landmarks it contains, can be seen from the top of the hill.
Historical sources say that the army of the Quraysh tribe and its allies went to Madinah to kill Muslims and avenge those who died in the Battle of Badr, which took place in the second Hijri year.
Muslims confronted them, with the Prophet Muhammad deploying archers on Mount Rumat. He ordered the archers to stay in their posts unless told to move.
When the attackers began to flee, the archers thought the battle was over and that they had won. They came down the mountain, disregarding the Prophet Muhammad’s order.
The commander of the attackers, Khalid bin Al-Walid, who had not yet converted to Islam, surprised the descending archers, killed them, then attacked the other Muslims.
Seventy of the Prophet’s companions were killed, including his uncle Hamzah bin Abdul-Muttalib. They were buried at the battle site at the base of Mount Rumat.
Muslims visit their graves to this day, as the Prophet Muhammad once did. Worshippers also ascend the mountain to observe the site of the battle.
