Al Khaḑrā’

Al Khaḑrā’

The Green Dome (Arabic: ٱَلْقُبَّة ٱلْخَضْرَاء, romanized: al-Qubbah al-Khaḍrāʾ, Hejazi Arabic pronunciation: [al.ɡʊb.ba al.xadˤ.ra]) is a green-coloured dome built above the Sacred Prophetic Chamber (al-Hujra al-Nabawiyya al-Sharifa) enclosing the burial tombs of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad and the first two Rashidun caliphs, Abu Bakr (r. 632–634) and Umar (r. 634–644). The dome was built above Aisha's house, where Muhammad gave his last breath and was buried. It is located in the southeast corner of the Prophet’s Mosque (al-Masjid al-Nabawi) in Medina, present-day Saudi Arabia. Millions visit it every year, since it is a tradition to visit the mosque after or before the pilgrimage to Mecca. The structure dates from 678 AH (1279/1280 CE), when an unpainted wooden cupola was built over the tomb. It was later rebuilt and painted using different colours (blue and silver) twice in the late 15th century and once in 1817 AD. The dome was first painted green in 1837 AD, and hence became known as the "Green Dome".