The Birthplace of the Prophet (s.a.w.)

The Prophet (s.a.w.), sent as a mercy to all the worlds, honoured the earth on 20 April 571 CE, on the night of the 12th of Rabi al-Awwal (Monday night), at daybreak, in Mecca al-Mukarramah, in the house that is now used as a library. This house, located in the quarter of Abu Talib, belonged to his great-grandfather Hashim ibn Abd Manaf. On his death it passed as an inheritance to his son Abd al-Muttalib, who, when dividing his property among his children, left it to Abdullah, from whom it passed to our Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (s.a.w.). During his migration (Hijrah), the Prophet (s.a.w.) entrusted this blessed house to Aqil ibn Abi Talib, the brother of Ali (r.a.). After the Prophet (s.a.w.) migrated to Medina al-Munawwarah, he made no further claim to it, nor did he use this house when he later visited Mecca al-Mukarramah. When Aqil's grandchildren sold the house to Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Thaqafi, brother of Hajjaj, he added it to his estate named Bayda. For a time the house was known by the name of Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Thaqafi. Later, Zubaydah, the wife of Harun al-Rashid, purchased the site and converted it into a mosque. From then on it became known by the name Mawlid al-Nabi (the birthplace of the Prophet). This mosque was rebuilt in the time of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (964 AH - 1557 CE). Inside this mosque there was also an empty dome known as the spot where the Prophet was born. After coming under Saudi administration, the mosque took on its present form (Qur'an al-Karim Atlas, p. 387). This house, located directly opposite the place of Sa'y between the hills of Safa and Marwah, near the entrance of the tunnel leading to Mina and Aziziyyah, has been used as the Mecca library since 1379 AH (1959 CE). Other blessed houses were demolished during the expansion of the Masjid al-Haram and incorporated into the mosque, while some became part of the marketplace and streets. Visiting that blessed place where the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) was born, where many extraordinary events took place, and reciting salawat upon him, will certainly be a means of mercy and intercession. When the Prophet (s.a.w.) was six years old, his mother passed away and he came under the care of his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib. When he was eight, his grandfather too passed away, and his uncle Abu Talib took him into his care. When he married our mother Khadijah (r.a.), he moved from the house of Abu Talib, where he had been staying, to his wife's house (Qur'an al-Karim Atlas, p. 392). Abu Talib's house lay between the Prophet's (s.a.w.) birthplace and the hill of Abu Qubays. Ali (r.a.) was also born there. There used to be a mosque built in its memory; it has now been completely demolished and turned into a garage for Hajj buses (Qur'an al-Karim Atlas, p. 392).