Madinah: The expansion of the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah would not affect other nearby ancient mosques, a senior official from the Ministry of Finance has said.
He said that the mosques of Abu Bakr, Omar ibn Al-Khattab, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Al-Ejaba and Abu Dhar (Al-Sajdah) would remain intact because they are outside the boundaries of the expansion area.
According to the source, the rehabilitation of the Al-Ejaba and Al-Sajdah mosques would begin after the completion of the expansion project.
Mohamed Al-Amin Al-Khatri, director general of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance in Madinah, reportedly said that 131 mosques are set to undergo restoration, including the historic mosques of Abu Bakr, Omar ibn Al-Khattab, Ali bin Abi Talib, and Fatima Al-Zahra.
Historians and concerned citizens expressed concern after local authorities erected notices to cut off the power from several mosques in areas of Madinah that have been marked for demolition. Some of the marked mosques carry historical and Islamic significance that date back to the Prophet's (peace be upon him) era.
Abdullah Kabir, Madinah landmarks researcher, said the expansion project must consult expert architects to ensure the preservation of the Sajdah Mosque's architectural identity. Preserving the historical significance of buildings in Madinah is considered complimentary to the expansion project's vision and not an obstacle against modernization, he said.
He said: "Al-Sajdah Mosque is not just a praying location. "Imam Al-Bayhaqi and others confirmed the Prophet has performed sujud in this mosque.
"The mosque has a long history of preservation that started from the first Hijri century during the time of the Umayyad Caliph Umar Bin Abdul Aziz. The last renovation of the mosque was during the late King Fahd's time."
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