Editing Prophet's Mosque (section)

=== Under Muhammad and the Rashidun (622–660 AD) ===
[[File:Hadith Masjid an-Nabawi Calligraphy 1.png|thumb|A [[hadith]] inscribed in the mosque which says "A prayer in this mosque of mine is better than a thousand prayers anywhere else, except for ''Al-[[Masjid al-Haram]]''."]]

The mosque was built by Muhammad in 622 AD after his arrival in Medina.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Prophet's Mosque [Al-Masjid An-Nabawi]|url=http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/articles/154991/the-prophets-mosque-al-masjid-an-nabawi|publisher=Islam Web|access-date=17 June 2015}}</ref> Riding a camel called Qaswa, he arrived at the place where this mosque was built, which was being used as a burial ground.{{sfn|Ariffin|2005|p=49}} Refusing to accept the land as a gift from the two orphans, Sahl and Suhayl, who owned the land, he bought the land which was paid for by Abu Ayyub [[Ansar (Islam)|al-Ansari]], and it took seven months to complete the construction of the mosque. It measured {{convert|30.5|×|35.62|m|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Ariffin|2005|p=49}} The roof which was supported by palm trunks was made of beaten clay and palm leaves. It was at a height of {{convert|3.60|m|abbr=on}}. The three doors of the mosque were the ''Bāb ar-Raḥmah'' ({{Lang|ar|بَاب ٱلرَّحْمَة}}, "Gate of the Mercy") to the south, ''Bāb Jibrīl'' ({{Lang|ar|بَاب جِبْرِيْل}}, "Gate of [[Gabriel]]") to the west, and ''Bāb an-Nisāʾ'' ({{Lang|ar|بَاب ٱلنِّسَاء}}, "Gate of the Women") to the east.{{sfn|Ariffin|2005|p=49}} At this time point in the history of the mosque, the wall of the ''[[qibla]]h'' was facing north to [[Jerusalem]], and the [[Suffah]] was along the northern wall. In the year 7 AH, after the [[Battle of Khaybar]], the mosque was expanded{{sfn|Ariffin|2005|p=50}} to {{convert|47.32|m|abbr=on}} on each side, and three rows of columns were built beside the west wall, which became the place of praying.{{sfn|Ariffin|2005|p=51}} The mosque remained unaltered during the reign of Abu Bakr.{{sfn|Ariffin|2005|p=51}}

Umar demolished all the houses around the mosque, except those of [[Muhammad's wives]], to expand it.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Atiqur Rahman|title=Umar Bin Khattab: The Man of Distinction|year=2003|publisher=Adam Publishers|isbn=978-81-7435-329-0|page=53}}</ref> The new mosque's dimensions became {{convert|57.49|×|66.14|m|abbr=on}}. Sun-dried mud bricks were used to construct the walls of the enclosure. Besides strewing pebbles on the floor, the roof's height was increased to {{convert|5.6|m|abbr=on}}. Umar constructed three more gates for entrance. He also added ''Al-Buṭayḥah'' ({{Lang|ar|ٱلْبُطَيْحَة}}) for people to recite poetry.{{sfn|Ariffin|2005|p=54}}

The third Rashidun caliph [[Uthman]] demolished the mosque in 649. Ten months were spent in building the new rectangular shaped mosque whose face was turned towards the [[Kaaba]] in Mecca. The new mosque measured {{convert|81.40|×|62.58|m|abbr=on}}. The number of gates as well as their names remained the same.{{sfn|Ariffin|2005|p=55}} The enclosure was made of stones laid in mortar. The palm trunk columns were replaced by stone columns which were joined by iron clamps. [[Teakwood]] was used in reconstructing the ceiling filza.{{sfn|Ariffin|2005|p=56}}