The minarets of the Prophet’s Mosque are among its most prominent architectural features and a defining element of its visual identity throughout successive Islamic eras, as their presence has been linked to the history of the mosque’s expansions, and their designs have reflected the evolution of Islamic architecture and its artistic richness.
During the time of the Prophet—peace be upon him—the mosque did not have—minarets in the architectural sense known today, as the call to prayer was sounded from an elevated spot inside the mosque or from a nearby rooftop, before the actual construction of minarets began in the late first century AH.
The mosque witnessed the first official construction of minarets during the reign of the Umayyad Caliph Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik, who ordered the expansion of the mosque between the years 88 and 91 AH, and entrusted the then-governor of Medina, "Umar ibn "Abd al-"Aziz, with carrying out the work. Four minarets were erected at the corners of the mosque; these are considered among the earliest minarets in Islamic architecture, and according to historical sources, they stood approximately 27 meters tall at the time.
During subsequent eras, particularly the Mamluk and Ottoman periods, some minarets were rebuilt, and others were added in line with successive expansions, most notably the Bab al-Salam Minaret, whose name is associated with one of the mosque’s most important gates on the western side and which underwent successive renovations over the centuries.
During the Saudi era, the minarets of the Prophet’s Mosque received special attention as part of modern expansion projects. In the first Saudi expansion (1370–1375 AH / 1951–1955 CE), some of the old minarets were removed, and two new minarets were constructed on the northern side, each approximately 70 meters high; Then, six more minarets were added as part of the Great Saudi Expansion during the reign of King Fahd bin Abdulaziz between 1406 and 1414 AH (1985–1994 CE), bringing the total number of minarets to ten.
Each minaret, in its current design, stands approximately 104 meters tall and consists of five main tiered sections, including a square base, an octagonal floor, a cylindrical section topped by the muezzin’s balcony, and a dome crowned with a metal crescent. The design incorporates classical Islamic architecture while utilizing modern construction and lighting technologies.
The ten minarets are symmetrically distributed around the edges of the mosque: four on the northern side, two on the southern side, and four at the corners, creating a visual and architectural balance that befits the vast expanse the mosque has reached following successive expansions, and embodying the continuous care it has received throughout the ages.
