The Rawdhah in the Prophet’s (Peace be Upon Him) Mosque in the Holy City of Madinah, was on Sunday opened to worshippers after almost seven months. The Rawdhah had been closed to the public to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Although the Prophet’s (Peace be Upon Him) Mosque opened to receive worshippers in June, the Rawdhah had remained closed. Respects can now be paid to the Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) and his two companions, Abu Bakr Siddiq and Omar ibn Al-Khattab (May Allah be Pleased with them) at the Sacred Chamber.

The sacred site is of extremely great religious value to Muslims. One emotional worshipper, Hanan Al-Jihani, who was able to book her slot through the I’tamarna app launched earlier last month, said, “I was blessed to be among the first group of female visitors to Rawdhah on the first morning of Rabi Al-Awwal month.” The I’tamarna app offers worshippers the option to pray in the Prophet’s (Peace be Upon Him) Mosque, pray in the Rawdhah, or to greet the Prophet (Peace be Upon Him). Al-Jihani added, “It is an extraordinary experience on an exceptional day.” In line with COVID19 precautionary measures, Al-Jihani’s barcode and temperature were checked before she was allowed entry.

Meanwhile, a visitor from Jeddah, Eman Mahmoud, said, “It is definitely a blessed day at the beginning of a blessed month when the Prophet, peace be upon him, was born. I couldn’t have been happier when I heard that we could finally visit the sacred chamber and greet our Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), praise be to Allah.” She said that the past months had been difficult for everyone, and that she hoped the coronavirus crisis ended soon and that all Muslims could enjoy their heart-purifying spiritual experience at the Mosque.

Arab News reports that visits are based according to the restricted capacity of the Rawdhah, with women able to visit between sunrise and midday.

Umm Muhammed Umar