The Ten Minarets of the Prophet’s Mosque Stand as Timeless Islamic Landmarks — SPA

Photography: Courtesy of SPA

Riyadh, March 19 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — The ten minarets of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah stand as one of Islam’s most prominent architectural and historical features, showcasing Islamic identity and grandeur to millions of visitors and worshippers each year, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

During the lifetime of the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) and the rule of his rightly guided caliphs, the mosque had no minarets. The call to prayer was delivered from elevated places, with Bilal ibn Rabah famously calling the dawn prayer from the rooftop of a house belonging to a woman from the Banu Najjar tribe. Over time, the Adhan evolved from being called at ground level to rooftops and eventually from dedicated minarets built at increasing heights.

The first significant structural developments were introduced during the reign of the late King Abdulaziz Al Saud between 1370 and 1375 AH. He maintained two minarets on the southern side of the mosque, removed three existing minarets, and constructed two new minarets at the northern corners. Each stood 70 meters tall with four distinct stories: a square-shaped first story ending in muqarnas and a balcony; an octagonal second story decorated with arches; a cylindrical third story featuring colored bands and muqarnas; and a fourth cylindrical level with arches, muqarnas, and a final balcony.

Between 1406 AH and 1414 AH, six additional minarets were added as part of the mosque’s expansion, each reaching 104 meters in height. These minarets were designed to harmonize with those from the first Saudi expansion. Four were built on the northern side, with one each at the southeastern and southwestern corners of the mosque.

Each of these six minarets consists of five stories, starting with a square base, followed by an octagonal section with decorative arches and columns. The third cylindrical story measures 5 meters in diameter and 18 meters in height, adorned with wavy bands ending in muqarnas. The fourth cylindrical story narrows slightly, featuring marble columns and supporting another balcony. The final story transitions into a polygonal cylinder, topped with a serrated crown, a conical section, and an onion-shaped dome carrying a 6.7-meter-high bronze crescent plated with 14-carat gold and weighing 4.5 tons.

The ten minarets of the Prophet’s Mosque today stand as enduring symbols of Islamic history, heritage, and architectural achievement, representing the spiritual and cultural depth of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.