The ʿAbbāsids and the Architectural Development of the Prophet’s Mosque: The Consequences of a Political Disintegration

Abstract

This article discusses the contributions of the ʿAbbāsid caliphs to the architectural development of the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina. Since the protracted ʿAbbāsid rule went through several precarious phases, it was frequently marred by acute religious and socio-political disorders and turbulences, so much so that its mere existence was occasionally threatened. The history and architectural development of the Prophet’s Mosque was not immune to such conditions. Its architectural integrity and predisposition, and overall functioning as a community development center, were now and then at risk. Thus, this article focuses on discussing the consequences and implications of a political disintegration during the ʿAbbāsid era for the architectural development and serviceability of the Mosque. The paper concludes that the ʿAbbāsid contributions to the architectural development of the Mosque were reasonable; however, there was a big room for improvement. The reasons for certain conceptual as well as functional inadequacies were not as much attributable to the ʿAbbāsids as to the prevalent circumstances in the state that eventually incapacitated the ʿAbbāsid government from performing its entrusted duties and responsibilities.

Keywords

• The ʿAbbāsids
• the Prophet’s Mosque
• Medina
• political disintegration

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