During his time in Madinah, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) constructed Masjid-e-Nabwi. The center of this mosque is referred to as Riaz Al Jannah.
Facts About Riaz Al Jannah
History of Riaz Al Jannah
Located in Madinah, Riaz Al Jannah is the area between the pulpit in the main prayer hall of Masjid-e-Nabwi and Prophet Muhammad’s(peace be upon him) tomb.
The history of Riaz Al Jannah goes back to 622 CE. After migrating to Madinah, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) started preaching Islam in a small area, later known as Rawdahtun Nabi, amongst the locals. The structure of this area consisted of palm leaves.
However, Rawdahtun Nabi has undergone multiple developments to become what we see today as Riaz Al Jannah. It is also known as the Rawdah Al Jannah, which translates to the Garden of Paradise.
Though it is a relatively small area(approximately 15 meters in width and 22 meters in length), it holds immense significance in Islam as it is also mentioned in one of the authentic Ahadith.
Moreover, during your visit to Rawdah Al Jannah, you will also be able to see the Mimbar of the Prophet(PBUH), Mehrab (also called Mehrab-e-Nabwi), and Roza-e-Rusool. Mimbar is where he used to deliver sermons, while Mehrab is where the Prophet used to lead the five daily prayers. Roza-e-Rusool is where Prophet is buried, which also used to be Prophet’s house.
Pillars of Rawdah Al Jannah
There are eight notable pillars in this Rawdah Al Jannah, six of which are located in the Rawdah area, and two of them are present in the Maqsoorah(Sacred Chamber).
Also, Muslims believe that these pillars are standing on the exact places where palm trees were initially present to support the roof of Masjid e Nabwi in 622 CE. These pillars(also referred to as Satoon or Ustuwana) have a gold Arabic inscription of their names, encircled by gold mesh to distinguish them from other pillars in Masjid-e-Nabwi. Their names are as follows:
- Pillar of the Guard or Ustawana Muharrs (الاسطوانة المحرس)
- Pillar of Repentance or Ustuwana Tawbah
- Pillar of Aisha or Ustuwana Aisha
- Pillar of Delegations or Ustuwana Wufud
- Pillar of the Bed or Ustuwana Sareer
- The Weeping Pillar or Ustuwana Al-Hannana
- Square Pillar of the Tomb or Ustuwana Murb’a Al-Qabr
- Pillar of the Night Prayer or Ustuwana Al-Tahajjud
The Green Carpet
A red carpet covers the entire Masjid-e-Nabwi. However, to make the area of Riaz Al Jannah more distinguished, there is a green floral carpet covering it.
Moreover, the carpet in this area features various shades of green, a color that also holds great significance in the Islamic faith. The green color in Islam symbolizes calmness and is also believed to represent Paradise.
Therefore, some people believe that the green carpet of Riaz Al Jannah signifies Paradise. At the same time, its floral pattern symbolizes the Gardens of Paradise.
Entrance to Riaz Al Jannah
There are different times for men and women to visit Riaz Al Jannah. Also, it is essential to note that there are limits to the number of people visiting the Noble Rawdah at once due to the small area. You should, therefore, have a permit to enter this area.
To book an appointment, you can download the Nusuk Application, previously known as the Eatmarna application. You can download it on Android by clicking here, and on iPhone, through this link.
Previously, women had to enter this area from Gate 25, that is, Bab(Gate) Uthman bin Affan. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic, women can enter through Gate 37. This gate is also known as the Makkah Gate or Bab-e-Makkah.
