The Prophet's Mosque squares became a cultural crossroad

It is the first thing that a visitor can spot, and it is the first to embrace him upon arriving to the mosque. They are widely extended: the Prophet’s Mosque squares. They are praying and worshiping places surrounding the Mosque, as well as places that gather friends and calm travelers. The visitor spends time spiritually meditating the soul and the beauty of the place on its marbled floor.

“The squares surround the Prophet’s Mosque from its four sides. They are estimated to reach 265 000m²,” Abdel Aziz al-Ridadi, Director of administration of the Prophet’s Mosque squares.

The clocks and 500 employees are spread in all corners of the Mosque, working hard every day to assist the visitors.

“One of the most important tasks of the square supervisor is to open the passages in the squares and direct men and women to adequate praying places. They also prevent visitors from selling items, smoking and begging,” al-Ridadi said.

The mosque squares are no longer the visitor’s destination for praying, but they have turned into a cultural club that gathers various nationalities from all over the world.

“Our friendly gathering in the Prophet’s mosque introduces us to the cultures of many countries, and this is what is called a cultural crossroads,” one visitor said.

“In fact we gathered today with our Palestinian, Jordanian and Syrian brothers, we also met Muslims from all around the world. The efforts of the Saudi Kingdom regarding the development and the expansion of this great mosque are enormous,” another said.

Loitering at the Mosque’s squares is not fully regulated, but the passages leading to the mosque’s corridors and expansions need a constant evacuation and a continuous follow up from the officers in order to keep the main and subsidiary passages open to welcome visitors.