The Al-Fateh Mosque (Bahrain)

Masjid Quba the first to be built in Islam.

Quba is the place on the fringes of Madinah where the Prophet (SAW), accompanied by Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) arrived and stayed after emigration from Makkah. They arrived on Monday 12th Rab’i al-Awwal, fourteen years after Prophet hood and this date marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar (Hijra), (16th July 622 CE). A mosque was established here by the Prophet (SAW), the first to be built in Islam.

In the past centuries, Muslims have rendered much attention to the Quba Mosque. It was renovated by a number of caliphs of the period.

·       First renovation: - The third Caliph Hazrat Uthman ibn Affan (RA) made the first renovations. Caliph Hazrat Omar bin Abdul Aziz (RA) built the mosque’s first minaret.

·       Second renovation: - It was renovated again in 435 AH by Abu Yali Al-Husseini who constructed a prayer niche known as the “Mehrab.”
In the year 555 AH, several additions were made to the mosque by Kamal Al-Din Al-Isfahani.

·       Successive renovations of the mosque took place in the years 671, 733, 840, 881 AH, and the latest changes were made in the era of Sultan Abdul Majid in the year 1245 AH during the time of the Ottoman Empire. 

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In present age, the Saudi regime has taken charge of the mosque by bestowing the responsibility to the Ministry of Haj Affairs which made further renewals and added structures to the original design. 
The modern day Quba Mosque is an architectural feat equipped with the latest facilities while maintaining its Islamic identity. The mosque has been expanded to accommodate more than 20 thousand worshipers. 

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In 1984, the late King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz laid the foundation stone for the historic expansion of the Quba Mosque. Two years later, he inaugurated the opening of the mosque after its expansion.

The Mosque was designed with an inner courtyard with several entrances. The northern section was reserved for women worshippers. 
The mosque now has four minarets and 56 domes and adjoined to it is the residence of Imams and muezzins, a library, lodging for the guards in an area of 112 sq. meters, and a commercial center with 12 shops covering an area of 450 sq. meters. The mosque has 7 main entrances and 12 subsidiary ones.
The mosque has 64 toilets for men and 32 toilets for women, and 42 units for ablution.
The mosque is cooled by three central units each with a capacity of one million and eighty thousand thermal units. Quba Mosque is a unique landmark and its white building can be clearly seen from a distance.

·        The features of Masjid Quba are mentioned in the following Quranic verse in Surah Taubah: “…certainly a masjid founded on piety from the very first day is more deserving that you should stand in it…” [9:108]

·        The Prophet (SAW) said: “He who purifies himself at his home and comes to Masjid Quba and offers two rakats therein, will be rewarded the reward of an Umrah.” [Sunan ibn Majah]

·        The people of Yathrib (Al-Madinah, Al-Munawwarah) had long awaited the Prophet (SAW), and each day they would go beyond the fields and palm groves and wait for him until the sun became unbearable. One day the people returned to their homes after waiting a long time for the Prophet (SAW). A Jew happened to catch a glimpse of a small group of white-robed travelers in the distance. He called out: “O people of Arabia! What you have been waiting for has arrived!”

·        The Muslims lifted their weapons and rushed to greet the Prophet (SAW). There was a great clamor as everyone ran to the edge of the desert to catch a glimpse of the travelers. The Prophet (SAW) then turned toward the right and came to Banu Amr bin Auf at Quba. Most of the Muslims who had emigrated from Makkah had stayed at Quba and many of them were there when the Prophet (SAW) arrived.

·        After reaching Quba, the Prophet (SAW) dismounted. Those of the Ansar who had not seen the Prophet (SAW) thought that Abu Bakr (RA) was the prophet because his hair had grown a little gray. But when they saw Abu Bakr shade the Prophet (SAW) with a sheet, they realized their mistake.

·        It was a time of great joy from both sides. The Prophet (SAW) addressed them saying: “O People, give unto one another greetings of peace; feed food unto the hungry; honour the ties of kinship, pray in the hours when men sleep. Even so shall ye enter paradise in peace?”

·        On arriving in the village of Quba after the blessed Hijra (migration), the Prophet (SAW) stayed for several days in the house of Kulthum bin Hadm (RA) and laid the foundations of Masjid Quba on his land. Prior to the migration of the Prophet (SAW) the Muslims sometimes offered their Friday prayers at the house of Sa’ad ibn Khaithamah (RA) which was close by. The location of this house was included in the modern day extension of Masjid Quba but the location of the house of Kulthum bin Hadm (RA) is marked by a few boulders to the south-west of Masjid Quba.

·        The Prophet (SAW) personally carried stones, rocks and sand with his companions for the construction work. Al-Tabarani quoted Al-Shimous Bint Al-Nuaman as saying, “I saw the Prophet when he constructed this mosque. He used to carry stones and rocks on his back until it was bent. I also saw dust on his dress and belly. But when one of his companions would come to take the load off him, he would say no and ask the companion to go and carry a similar load instead.”

·        Hazrat Ali (RA) stayed on for three days after the Prophet (SAW) secretly left Makkah for Madinah. During this period he settled all the Prophet’s (SAW) affairs in Makkah. He then left on foot and met up with the Prophet (SAW) in Quba.

·        Narrated by Abdullah bin Dinar: Ibn ‘Umar (RA) said, “The Prophet used to go to the Mosque of Quba every Saturday (sometimes) walking and (sometimes) riding.”

·        Prophet Muhammad (SAW) led the first group prayer from Quba Mosque when Al-Aqsa Mosque in Al-Quds (Jerusalem) was the Qibla at the time. That Friday he left Quba with Abu Bakr (RA). He sent a message to Banu Najjar, the house of his maternal grandfather. His kinsmen came to Quba and joined the Prophet (SAW) on his way to Madinah.