Highlights of the Noble Chamber and Its Details

Visitors from all over the world come to offer their salutations to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq and Umar ibn Al-Khattab at the Noble Chamber inside the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. This sacred chamber was initially the living quarters of Aisha, the Prophet’s wife, and was blessed to be the resting place where the Prophet passed away in the 11th year of Hijrah.

The Burial of the Prophet (peace be upon him)

Researcher Mohiuddin Al-Hashimi explains that after the Prophet’s passing, the companions debated the burial site. Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq suggested burying him in the place where he passed away, based on the Prophet’s own words: “No Prophet dies but is buried where he passes away.” Abu Talha Al-Ansari dug a grave for the Prophet in the southern part of the Noble Chamber.

The Prophet’s head was positioned facing west, his feet toward the east, and his face turned toward the Qibla. When Abu Bakr passed away in 13 Hijri, he was buried behind the Prophet, with his head aligned at the Prophet’s shoulders.

Later, when Umar ibn Al-Khattab was nearing his death, he sought Aisha’s permission to be buried alongside them. She graciously consented, favoring Umar over herself, as she initially intended the space for her own burial. Umar was buried next to the Prophet, and Aisha partitioned the chamber into two sections: one for her residence and the other for the graves.

The Chamber’s Evolution Over Time

Originally built from sun-dried bricks and palm branches, the chamber had low walls. Umar built higher walls around it, but it was under Caliph Al-Walid ibn Abdul Malik that significant renovations were undertaken.

When a wall collapsed during Umar ibn Abdul Aziz’s time, the governor of Madinah supervised its rebuilding with square black stones similar to those of the Kaaba.

Unique Features of the Noble Chamber

Mohiuddin Al-Hashimi highlights the following:

• • The Eastern Green Door: The only entrance to the chamber, over 600 years old.

• • Interior Elements: Inside, visitors would find white marble flooring added during King Faisal’s reign and the bed of Lady Fatima (the Prophet’s daughter). This bed was historically used to store valuable gifts presented by rulers and has since been relocated to Istanbul’s Topkapi Palace.

• • Western Passage: Leading to the Rawdah (the garden of paradise), this passage includes a wall covered with a green drape, renewed in 1406 AH during King Fahd’s reign. The previous covering, made in 1370 AH, dates back to King Abdul Aziz’s era.

The chamber’s surrounding walls, known as Qa’itbay’s Wall, were built in 881 AH, replacing earlier walls. These are solid and sealed, with no doors, measuring 8 meters from the Qibla side, 6.5 meters on the eastern and western sides, and 14 meters collectively on the northern side.

The Chamber’s Description

Based on the account of historian Al-Samhudi, the chamber floor is made of red pebbly sand and lies about 60 cm lower than the mosque’s ground. The graves are barely elevated above the ground. During restoration, wooden teak beams were added to support a small dome 8 meters high, located directly beneath the green dome.

Over the centuries, additional walls and closures were added, with the last major entrance to the chamber occurring in 881 AH to address structural damage.

The Chamber’s Fence and the Green Dome

• • The First Fence: Sultan Al-Zahir Baybars built the first iron fence around the chamber in 668 AH to prevent inappropriate practices near the graves.

• • The Current Fence: After a fire in 886 AH, the original fence was replaced in 888 AH with the current golden one, inscribed with Sultan Qaitbay’s name, which matches the inscriptions on the Mihrab in the Rawdah.

• • The Green Dome: Initially white and known as Al-Fayha Dome, it was built during Qaitbay’s era and underwent several restorations, including reinforcement against cracks in 892 AH.

The Noble Chamber remains a focal point for Muslims worldwide, embodying the profound reverence for the Prophet and his companions. Its architecture and history stand as a testament to the devotion of generations past and present.