Relationship between the Prophet's Mosque and its physical environment, Al-Medina, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Al-Medina, the second holy city of Islam, has been witnessing unprecedented growth during the last four decades, driven by both the improvement of the Saudi Arabian economy and by the sharp increase in the number of visiting pilgrims. The central area, in particular, where the Prophet's Mosque is located, has undergone profound physical change. The historical quarters surrounding the'Mosque were cleared in order to provide additional prayer places for the increasing number of worshippers, and also to improve accessibility to the building. This together with the introduction of new alien urban elements such as high-rise buildings, large car- parks and overhead bridges, resulted in the present contradiction between the Mosque and its surroundings.

This thesis examines the relationship between the Mosque and its surrounding physical environment, and the effect of these changes on the spirituality of the city. It consists of two main parts: the first deals with the development of the relationship between the Mosque and its surroundings since its first building till the present time, while the second part is devoted to the public perception of change. This involved carrying out two separate sample surveys, one for residents of Al-Medina and the other for visitors, to ascertain their attitudes towards the recent changes and to suggest how to recover the coherent and inspiring character of the Holy City.