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Al-Ghamamah Mosque

Madinah, Saudi Arabia

Al-Ghamamah Mosque

A small historic mosque near the Prophet's Mosque, on the spot where the Prophet ﷺ prayed the Eid prayers and the prayer for rain. Its name means "the cloud".

Favourite places

Local food

  • Ajwa dates

    Madinah, Saudi Arabia

    Madinah's most famous dates: small, dark and soft, with a gentle sweetness. Ajwa is grown in and around Madinah and is linked with the Prophet ﷺ in well-known hadith, so pilgrims buy it as a blessed gift to take home. Madinah's date shops also sell Sukkari, Safawi, Mabroom, Anbara and many other varieties.Read more

  • Saudi coffee (qahwa) with dates

    Madinah, Saudi Arabia

    Lightly roasted coffee spiced with cardamom (often saffron or cloves too), poured in small cups and always served with dates. Offering it is the heart of Saudi hospitality.

Where to eat

  • Madinah Dates Market

    Near the Prophet's Mosque, central Madinah

    Stall after stall of dates — Ajwa, Sukkari, Safawi, Anbara and more — with tasting, plus date paste, nuts and gift boxes. Ask for each variety by name and taste before you buy.

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  • Central Area restaurants (Markaziya)

    Streets around the Prophet's Mosque

    Hotel buffets, food courts and simple restaurants serving Saudi, Turkish, South Asian, Indonesian and Middle Eastern food for pilgrims from every country. Busiest straight after each prayer.

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Where to stay

  • Central Area — south and west side

    Madinah, Saudi Arabia

    Hotels and serviced apartments on the southern and western edges of the central area, close to the mosque, the Dates Market and the road to Quba.

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  • Central Area — north side

    Madinah, Saudi Arabia

    Large hotels a few minutes' walk from the Prophet's Mosque and its northern gates. The most convenient for Muslim pilgrims who want to pray all five prayers at the mosque.

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Culture

A quiet historic building in the busy heart of the city. Visit respectfully and do not climb on walls or steps for photos. Dress modestly: men in long trousers and sleeved tops; women in loose clothing covering arms and legs, with a headscarf (an abaya is customary). Take your shoes off before the prayer halls, keep your voice low, and do not walk directly in front of someone who is praying. Photography of people at prayer is discouraged.

History

This was once the open prayer ground (musalla) of Madinah, where the Prophet ﷺ led the two Eid prayers in his later years and the prayer for rain (salat al-istisqa). Tradition says a cloud shaded him there, or that rain clouds gathered after the prayer — hence the name al-Ghamamah, "the cloud".

A mosque was built on the site in early Islamic times; the present building, with its grey basalt walls and row of small domes, is largely Ottoman, restored in modern times. With the expansions of the Prophet's Mosque it now stands at the edge of its south-western courtyard and is often closed outside special occasions, but its exterior remains one of the most photographed historic buildings in Madinah.

Tour plans

Historic mosques walk

1 hour

  1. Step 1: Al-Ghamamah Mosque

    Start at the old Eid prayer ground.

  2. Step 2: Abu Bakr and Ali mosques

    Walk past the small historic mosques nearby.

  3. Step 3: Dates Market

    Finish with tasting at the date stalls.

Map

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Travel information

Best time to visit

Any time you are at the Prophet's Mosque; early morning and evening light suit photographs.

How to get there

A short walk across the courtyard from the south-western gates of the Prophet's Mosque.

Getting around

On foot from the central area.

Travel tips

  • The mosque is often closed to prayers; enjoy its exterior and pray in the Prophet's Mosque.
  • Nearby stand other small historic mosques linked to the companions, such as those named after Abu Bakr and Ali.
  • Bring water in the heat — the open courtyard has little shade at midday.

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