Azernews.Az

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has visited the city of Medina as part of his official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

President Aliyev, his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva and family members visited the Prophet's Mosque.

Religious figures cordially welcomed the head of state.

Then the president, his spouse and family members performed a prayer in the mosque.

The Prophet's Mosque‎, also called Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, is one of the largest mosques in the world. It is the second-holiest site in Islam, after al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca.

The original mosque was built by prophet Muhammad and his companions next to the house where he settled after his journey to Medina. The mosque, which covers a total area of 400,000 square meters, has 10 minarets.

High guests are allowed to enter the place, where Prophet Mohammed was buried, in exceptional cases. This time the doors of the place opened to the head of state and members of his family.

Many pilgrims who perform the Hajj go on to Medina to visit the mosque due to its connections to the life of Muhammad. Now 650,000 Muslims can pray here at the same time.

As part of the visit to the Kingdom, President Aliyev, his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva and family members have also performed the Umrah pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca.

President Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva completed the official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on April 7.