The Courtyards of the Prophet’s Mosque are the courtyards surrounding the Prophet's Mosque in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah. They extend from the outer walls of the mosque to the fence separating them from the hotels and markets in the central area surrounding it.
Designs of the Prophet’s Mosque’s courtyards
The courtyards of the Prophet’s Mosque are distinguished by their pavement of granite and colored marble, designed in Islamic geometric patterns. The Saudi kings have shown great dedication to this sacred area. Founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud initiated the project in 1948, which expanded the area of the Prophet's Mosque to approximately 16,327 m². Subsequent expansions, renovations, and restorations increased the total area of the Prophet's Mosque to around 400,500 m², accommodating over 707,000 worshipers. During the Second Saudi Expansion in the era of King Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, extensive courtyards were added to the north, west, and south, covering a total area of 235,000 m². These courtyards are utilized for prayer, with a capacity for approximately 450,000 worshipers.
During the reign of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, he ordered the completion of the remaining work of the expansion project. This included installing sixty-eight canopies in addition to the existing ones, bringing the total number to 250 canopies covering all the external courtyards of the Prophet's Mosque. These canopies open and close automatically, designed with two different heights, and cover an area of 144,000 m². He also instructed the implementation of the eastern courtyard, which spans an area of 37,000 m² and accommodates over seventy thousand worshipers.
Components of the courtyards of the Prophet’s Mosque
The courtyards of the Prophet's Mosque serve as a place for worship and prayer. Beneath them, there is a basement containing several floors for services. Some of these are to facilitate the movement of visitors to and from the Prophet's Mosque. It includes parking spaces covering an area of 292,000 m², accommodating around 4,200 cars. It also houses ablution facilities, restrooms, and services for businesses and technical equipment. Users can access it through elevators and escalators spread throughout its center and edges.
The implemented plan for the courtyard projects of the Prophet's Mosque included around 182 canopies, covering all the courtyards' corridors. These aim to protect the worshipers and visitors from the sun's heat and rain. They are equipped with dedicated systems for rainwater drainage, preventing slip hazards during rainy times, and feature automated electronic lighting as needed.
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