Detailed Account

Immediately after selecting the location of his settlement, the Prophet ﷺ purchased the land from the two orphans who owned it, despite their willingness to donate it. He insisted on paying a fair price (ten gold dinars, provided by Abu Bakr) to avoid any future dispute. Construction began with clearing the site of graves, trees, and ruins. The Prophet ﷺ personally participated alongside his companions, carrying bricks and stones while reciting motivational poems: 'O Allah, the true reward is the reward of the Hereafter, so have mercy on the Ansar and Muhajiroon.' The structure was simple but functional: rectangular shape approximately 35 × 30 meters, walls of mud-brick, palm trunk pillars, a roof of palm leaves and wood, and a floor of sand. Three doors provided access, with one side left partially open as a sheltered area (Suffah) for homeless migrants. Adjacent to the mosque's eastern wall were small apartments for the Prophet's ﷺ household, also of simple construction with curtain doors. Beyond its primary function as a place of worship, the mosque served as a comprehensive community center—educational institution where the Prophet ﷺ taught daily, administrative headquarters where delegations were received, social welfare center supporting the poor, courthouse for dispute resolution, and community gathering space. The migrants and Ansar worked together on this construction project, forging bonds and establishing a pattern of communal cooperation that would characterize Madinan society. This mosque became the prototype for all future mosques, demonstrating Islam's emphasis on simple, functional worship spaces rather than elaborate structures, while establishing the centrality of the mosque in Islamic community life.