SUFFA PLATE FORM
1 . If you enter in Masjid-e-Nabvi from Bab-e-Jibrael you will see two plate forms, a few yards ahead. One of them at your right and the other will be at your left hand adjacent to back wall of prophet,s(S.A.W). It is called "Mehrab-e-Tahajjud". Right one is called "Suffa Platform".
2 . It is called first Islamic institution which foundation was laid by Prophet (S. A. W.). During the era of Prophet's (S. A. W.) this place was used as institution in the morning and in the night it was converted for the rest purposes of homeless people and travellers.
3 . After modern construction of the Masjid this has become very beautiful and colourful Platform. it is seven meter long, three meter wide and half meter high. Its three sides are covered with golden railings.
4 . This platform has produced a number of Islamic Scholars, which preaching spread Islam all over the world. Near about four thousand companions got the expertness of Deen (Quran and Sunna). Syedna Abu Hurraira (RA), Syedna Abdullah Bin Umer (RA) and Syedna Anas Bin Malik (RA) are most well known, renowned scholar of this institution.
MEHRAB -E- TAHAJJUD
1 . Just adjacent to the back wall of Prophet,s shrine, you will see a small platform. It is known as "Mehrab-e-Tahajjud", where Prophet (S. A. W.) used to offer Tahajjud Prayer (midnight optional prayer).
It is mehrab-e-tahajjud. Back wall of prophet sall allaho allihio wasalams' Rodha. it is in fact the wall of syeda Fatima radi Allah -o-talla anhas' hujra (house).
2 . Now a days, "Khuddam-e-Haram" sit here and keep recitation of Holy Quran. It is just opposite Suffa platform.
MEHRAB -E- USMANI
1 . In "Masjid-e-Nabvi" now a days, where Emam leads a prayer is known as Mehrab-e-Usmani. It is few rows ahead to the place of Musala-e-Rasool (S. A. W.).
The first one (little far ahead) is mehrab-e-usmani where imam leads prayers today. The nearer one (man beging) dua) is the mehrab-e-navi where prophet sallalla ho allihi wasalam used to lead 5 time salat-ul-farz.
2 . In the era of Caliph Syedna Usman (RA) this extension was done and this Mehrab was constructed. Therefore, it is called Mehrab-e-Usmani.
3 . If you enter from Bab-e-Baqqi and cross the shrine of Prophet (S. A. W.) you will find it at your left. It is not the area of Riaz-ul-Janna.
ISTEVANA (Pillars of Riaz-ul-Janna)
ISTEVANA -E- HANNANA
1 . In the area of Riaz-ul-Janna, this pillar is situated in between Mehrab-e-Nabvi (Place of Prophet's Prayer) and MIMBER-E-NABVI (place of delivering Sermon). It is just adjacent to right side of Mehrab-e-Nabvi.
2 . In early stage of this mosque, here there was a stem of dates tree and Prophet (S. A. W.) use to deliver sermon holding it. It was the temporary place and when the new MIMBER became ready. Prophet (S. A. W.) left this stem and started to use newly built MIMBER. First time, when Prophet (S. A. W.) stood over a new MIMBER for delivering sermon, the companions who were siting on the floor, heard that anyone was crying but they could not understand who was that. Prophet (S. A. W.) stepped down from his MIMBER and put his hand over that stem with love and kindness. Actually, that stem was weeping. The loving touch of Prophet (S. A. W.) and made that stem some satisfaction and it stopped crying. This pillar is built at the point where this historical stem was present.
ISTEVANA -E- AISHA (RA)
1 . This pillar is situated few feet behind, at the left hand of Mehrab-e-Nabvi if your face is towards QIBLA.
2 . Once Prophet (S. A. W.) indicated a spot in Riaz-ul-Janna and said, "If I (S. A. W.) tell you the importance and reward of praying at this point, people will start to draw their names to pray here first". Prophet (S. A. W.) did not disclose this point but once UMMUL-MOMEENEEN Syeda Aisha (RA) pointed out that particular place to her nephew. The pillar is situated at the point which was indicated by Syeda Aisha (RA) and the name of this pillar is embossed over it.
ISTEVANA -E- ABI-LABABA (RA)
1 . Few feet behind Mehrab-e-Nabvi you will see three pillars between Mehrab and green wall of Prophet's Shrine (Wall of Riaz-ul-Janna side). The middle one is Istevana-e-Abi-Lababa. It is just after Istevana-e-Aisha (RA).
2 . Once a companion Syedna Abi Lababa made a mistake unintentionally. He had opened the secret of prophet Muhammad sallalaaho allihi wasalam and pointed out mistakenly towards enemies which were in muslims custody that you would have been killed .He felt much guilty of his mistake and fasten himself with a stem and declared that he would keep himself fasten unless Almighty Allah forgave him. When Almighty Allah accepted his apologize, Prophet (S. A. W.) came and unfastened him with his Holy Hands. It is really a very spiritual and historic pillar.
ISTEVANA -E- SAREER
1 . The green wall of Prophet's shrine in riaz-ul-Jinna has three pillars. The half portion of all these three pillars are inside the shrine and remaining half are outside in Riaz-ul-Janna. The first pillar among these is known Istevana-e-Sareer.
2 . It is the place where Prophet (S. A. W.) used to sit (Stay) for Aatekaf during last ten days in Ramadan. There was a window in the wall and Syeda Aisha (RA) used to give oil and comb in Prophet's (S. A. W.) hairs from inside her house. The image of this window may be seen today.
ISTEVANA -E- HARAS (Ali -RA)
1 . The middle pillar among those three which are half inside the shrine and half outside in Riaz-ul-Janna is known as Istevana-e-Haras. Haras means 'fear'
2 . It is the place where companions used to set their duties for the security of Prophet (S. A. W.). Once Syedna Ali (RA) paid the duty as a guard of Prophet's (S. A. W.), therefore, the second name of this pillar is ISTEVANA-e-ALI (RA).
3 .When the vahee had been revealed and Almighty Allah took the responsibility of security of Prophet Muhammad sallalla ho allihiwasalam, such duty had been removed from this place (now pilaar of Haras)
ISTEVANA -E- WAFOOD
1 . The last pillar adjacent to green wall of Prophet's (S. A. W.) Shrine in Riaz-ul-Janna is called Istevana-e-Wafood.
2 . Actually, this was the place where Prophet (S. A. W.) used to meet with different local and foreign delegations to solve different matters. In Arabic delegations means "Wafood" and it is the reason of this pillar's name.
Detail of above 3 white marbled pillars
1.Istevana-e-Hras--------extreme on right
2.Istevana-e-sareee -------- in the middle with wall of rodha
3.Istevanae-wafood -------- on the left with wall of rodha
Brown pillar on extreme left indicates the court yard area of masjid-e-nabvi in prophet s.a.w era
ISTEVANA -E- TAHAJJUD
1 . This pillar is now inside the shrine and can not be seen. It was the place where Prophet (S. A. W.) used to offer Tahajjud Prayer. It is inside the shrine near the back wall where now the plate form of Mehrab-e-Tahajjud is present which is separately described.
COMPLETE MAP OF PILLARS AND RIAZ-UL-JANNAH
ESTEVANAS, MEHRAB NABVI & MIMBER RIAZ-UL-JANNAH