Creator: Textology and literary source I course Pair I

Historical places
Creator: Textology and literary source I course Pair I.
Teacher: Khasanova D.
🕌Mosques as historical places
Mosques have been in existence as long as Islam. Some of the earliest mosques were built during the time of the prophet Muhammad. However, according to Quran, some mosques predated Muhammad(s.a.w.) and were built during the time of the previous prophets like Ibrahim(a.s.). Quran mentions four mosques. It is unclear when these mosques were first built, but they are considered the oldest mosques in the world. These mosques hold the highest place in the Islamic tradition and are regarded as holy pilgrimages.
Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, also known as the Prophet’s Mosque, is the second mosque built by the prophet Muhammad in Medina. It is the second-largest mosque in the world and is regarded as the second-holiest site in Islam.
The land where the mosque was erected belonged to two young orphans, Sahl and Suhayl. Before Muhammad reached Medina, the site was used as a burial ground. As Sahl and Suhayl learned that Muhammad was looking for land, they offered it as a gift.
However, Muhammad realized the orphan brothers needed money and insisted on paying the price. Later, Abu Ayyub al-Ansari paid on behalf of Muhammad. Originally the mosque was an open-air building used as a religious school, a court of law, and a meeting place for the followers of Islam.
Al-Masjid an-Nabawi
📋First built: Around 622
🔍Country: Saudi Arabia
📌Location: Medina
Quba Mosque
Quba mosque was the first mosque built by Muhammad. It is believed that Muhammad laid the first stone of the mosque, and his followers completed the construction.
This small mosque was built in Quba, a village 3.5 miles off Medina. Later Medina was expanded and included this village. Quran says after emigrating to Medina, Muhammad stayed in Kulsoom bin Hatam’s home for 14 days. Later, he built the Quba mosque at that place.
📋First built: Around 622
🔍Country: Saudi Arabia
📌Location: Medina
Masjid al-Qiblatayn (Somaliland)
📋First built: 615
🔍Country: Somaliland
📌Location: Zeila
Masjid al-Qiblatayn (not to be confused with Masjid al-Qiblatayn of Medina) is one of the three earliest mosques built in Africa built by the early followers of the prophet Muhammad.
The mosque is located in Zeila in the western Awdal region of Somaliland. During the early 7th century, the companions of Muhammad fled from Mecca to save themselves from the persecution of the ruling Quraysh. They took refuge in several parts of erstwhile Abyssinia, present-day Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somaliland.
These followers then built mosques wherever they settled. Three of those mosques are still existing: Masjid al-Qiblatayn, Al Nejashi Mosque, and Masjid aṣ-Ṣaḥābah.
The mosque, which is now mostly in ruins, contains the tomb of Sheikh Babu Dena and two mihrabs. One mihrab is oriented to the north, facing Mecca, and the other northwest towards Jerusalem.
Al-Mashʿar Al-Ḥarām
This place hosts one part of the Hajj pilgrimage. After performing the rituals at Kaaba, pilgrims travel to Mina and proceed to Al-Mashʿar Al-Ḥarām. They perform Maghrib and Isha prayers together and spend the night at Muzdalifah. The next day they go to Mina and return to Muzdalifah to perform the Fajr prayer and leave for Mecca.
📋First built: Unknown
🔍Country: Saudi Arabia
📌Location: Muzdalifah
Al-Mashʿar Al-Ḥarām, also called the Sacred Monument, is an open-roofed mosque in Muzdalifah, near Mecca. The site is mentioned in Quran and thus regarded as one of the oldest mosques in the world. However, the time when it was first built is still not confirmed.
Haram al-Sharif
Haram al-Sharif, or the Temple Mount, is considered the second oldest mosque in the world. It is the third most sacred site in Islam. The site is also regarded as sacred by Jews and Christians. The site is located in Jerusalem, Palestine.
The compound houses the Qubbat al-Sakhra or the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosque. According to Islamic tradition, the Dome of the Rock is where the prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven during the Night Journey. On the other hand, Jews believe it is where Abraham tried to sacrifice his son to God.
The site of Haram al-Sharif has long been a source of political conflict between Israel and Palestine. Currently, Israel controls the site, but Muslim Waqf, an Islamic trust, administers the mosque.
📋First built: Unknown
🔍Country: State of Palestine
📌Location: Jerusalem (old city)
Masjid al-Haram
Masjid al-Haram is considered the oldest mosque in the world. It is located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The mosque surrounds Kaaba, the most sacred site in Islam. According to Quran, the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Isma’il built the structure of the Kaaba.
Kaaba is the most sacred location in Islam, a pilgrimage site during the Hajj and Umrah. All adult Muslims are required to participate in Hajj at least once in their lifetime, given they are physically and financially capable. Besides Kaaba, Al-Haram Mosque includes other important holy sites such as The Black Stone, Maqam Ibrahim, the hills of Safa and Marwa, and Zamzam Well. Some Islamic scholars believe that the Black Stone is the only remnant of the original structure.
Several renovations and expansions were made to this mosque over the centuries. Now the mosque covers an area of 356,000 square meters and has nine minarets. Masjid al-Haram is the largest mosque in the world and can accommodate up to 2.5 million pilgrims at a time.
📋First built: During the time of Ibrahim
🔍Country: Saudi Arabia
📌Location: Mecca
That’s all for today
Thank you!