The Seven Mosques (Al-Khandaq) in Madinah
Al-Fateh neighbourhood, at the foot of Jabal Sala, Madinah
The Seven Mosques complex in Madinah: a group of small mosques at the foot of Jabal Sala, on part of the Battle of the Trench site, under redevelopment by the Madinah Region Development Authority.
In short
- Address
- Al-Fateh neighbourhood, at the foot of Jabal Sala, Madinah
- City
- Madinah
Overview
The Seven Mosques, also called Al-Masajid as-Sab’a or Al-Khandaq, are a group of small mosques on the western side of Jabal Sala in Madinah, on part of the site of the Battle of the Trench. Saudipedia notes that the actual number is six: Al-Fath, Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, Umar ibn al-Khattab, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Fatimah az-Zahra and Salman al-Farisi. Masjid al-Qiblatain, about 1 km away, is traditionally counted as the seventh because visitors usually see it on the same trip. Visit Madinah says that only five of them remain.
History
Saudipedia dates the first stone buildings to the Umayyad period, between 706 and 712, with a renovation in 1179 and a rebuilding in 1851. The site is linked to the Battle of the Trench in the year 5 AH (626 CE), when a trench was dug to defend the city. Al-Fath is the largest of the mosques and stands on a hill on the western slope of Jabal Sala; Fatimah’s mosque is the smallest, about 4 by 3 metres.
Redevelopment
Arab News reported in 2016 that the historic mosques of Madinah were closed to visitors for restoration. In 2022 the Madinah Region Development Authority launched a programme for more than 100 historic sites that includes the Battle of the Trench site. In November 2025 Okaz reported that work was accelerating: the area around Jabal Sala is to become a large park and tourist landmark, and the mosque of Umar ibn al-Khattab has been rebuilt in the same stone style as Al-Fath. Completion has not been announced, so which parts are open depends on the current works.
Getting there
The complex is on the north-west side of the city, in the Al-Fateh neighbourhood, at coordinates of about 24.4768 N, 39.5960 E. A taxi or ride-hailing car from the Prophet’s Mosque is the simplest way.
Tips for visitors
- Check at your hotel or with a driver which parts of the site are open on the day.
- Go early in the morning or before sunset because there is little shade.
- Follow the posted rules and the staff instructions on site.
- Combine the visit with Masjid al-Qiblatain, about 1 km away.
Nearby
- Masjid al-Qiblatain, about 1 km
- Jabal Sala, directly behind the mosques
- Masjid Quba and Mount Uhud by car
Photo: Richard Mortel (CC BY 2.0), Wikimedia Commons