Madinah Governorate - Old Ottoman Barracks - Barracks Mosque - Emirate of Madinah Province

The Ottoman Empire maintained a strong military and administrative presence in Madinah. The Asâkir-i Şâhâne Barracks was a large military structure built for the Ottoman army's garrison in Madinah. This structure formed the center of the Ottoman's administrative and military organization in Hijaz. Within the barracks complex, there was also a mosque; this mosque is referred to as 'Barracks Mosque' or 'Mosque of Our Master Bilal'. Named after Hz. Bilal, this mosque served the worship needs of soldiers and personnel. During World War I, the barracks served as the headquarters for the Ottoman forces under the command of Fahreddin Pasha. After the war, following the transition to Saudi administration, the building gradually began to be used as the Emirate and Governorship of Madinah. Today, it functions as the service building of the Madinah Governorate. [Source: "Hijaz", TDV Islamic Encyclopedia, https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/hicaz; "Fahreddin Pasha", TDV Islamic Encyclopedia, https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/fahreddin-pasa]