Minarets of Prophet’s Mosque an architectural attraction for worshippers

The visiting worshipers to Medina in Saudi Arabia are attracted by the view of the ten minarets of the Prophet's Mosque, which is considered an Islamic architectural landmark.

Worshipers are guided by these minarets to the mosque, which can be seen from all angles due to their heights.

Through history these minarets were the outlet to carry the Azan, the call for prayer, since Bilal bin Rabah the first muezzin during the prophet days 1400 years AH.

The Prophet’s Mosque has undergone many improvements, but since the reign of the Saudi state it has witnessed huge improvements at various levels to attract more worshipers whose numbers are increasing annually.

Early improvements

Late King Abdul Aziz al-Saud made the first improvements between 1370 and 1375 AH, and kept the two minarets in the southern corner of the mosque and demolished the other three to build instead two new minarets at the northern corner. Each of the minarets is 70 meters high.

Each minaret consists of four floors, the first is in a square shape and goes all the way up to the roof and ends with a balcony in a square shape. The second is designed in an octagon form and the walls are built high to the ceiling ending with triangles and attached by a balcony as well. The third is designed in a way that can carry a circle shaped balcony at the top, while the fourth is designed in a circle shape carrying pillars decorated by triangles at the top end and above it a balcony.

minarets medina. (SPA)

The expansion of the Prophet’s Mosque continued on during 1406 to 1414 AH and six minarets were added at 104 meters high to become ten minarets, designed in harmony with the existing ones during the first expansion works. The four minarets are lined on the northern side, the fifth on the southern east side of the extension of the mosque and the sixth is located at the southern west side corner of the mosque.

The Prophet’s Mosque continued to undergo more expansions especially in 1434 Hijri where the mosque underwent the biggest expansion works, increasing its capacity to reach 2 mln worshipers at the end of the project, which is considered the largest in the history of the mosque, and the most prominent Islamic event in all parts of the globe.

Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud continued the process of giving in the service of the two holy mosques.

He stressed the importance of keenness to follow up the work on the major expansion project of the Prophet's Mosque and related projects, which aim to serve Islam and Muslims from all over the world. It also seeks to serve the people of Medina and its visitors by a continuous follow up by the Saudi Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Salman, and direct supervision of Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.