ThePlace: Quba Mosque in Madinah

Quba Mosque was the first mosque in the history of Islam, and the first mosque built in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. The Grand Mosque in Makkah has priority as it is the first mosque built for the people, but the Quba Mosque was the first mosque built by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions.
It is located southwest of Madinah, 5 kilometers from Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi (Prophet’s Mosque) and was built in the year 1 A.H (622 A.D).
Quba Mosque witnesses an influx of worshippers and visitors throughout the year, but the numbers have increased because of the Hajj season. Large gatherings can be observed in the mosque’s precincts, especially in the early hours of the morning.
It is of great importance because in a Hadith narrated by Ibn Umar, it is said that Prophet Muhammad visited the Quba Mosque every Saturday by foot or by riding his camel.
There is a Hadith narrated by the Prophet: “Whoever makes ablutions in this house and offers one prayer therein, will be rewarded the equivalent of one Umrah.” This makes the mosque of great importance to Muslims, and it hold significant historic value.
After the death of Prophet Muhammad, his companions renovated the mosque and enlarged it many times.
In the reign of King Fahd, the Quba Mosque was expanded in 1405 A.H. The praying space is 5,000 meters square and the area of the building along with its facilities is 13,500 meters square, and fits 20,000 worshippers.
The Development Authority of Madinah plans to enlarge the Quba Mosque and its surrounding space to cater for the growing number of visitors and Hajj performers. It is predicted that the mosque will accommodate 55,000 visitors.
The mosque has four minarets and 56 domes and next to it is the residence of imams and muezzins, a library, lodging for the guards in an area of 112 square meters, and a commercial center with 12 shops covering an area of 450 square meters. The mosque has seven main entrances and 12 subsidiary ones.