The Mihrab of Hz. Osman and the Silver Dome

Hz. Osman b. Affân (d. 35/656) was the third caliph of Islam and both a son-in-law of the Prophet (to Rukayye and later Ummu Kulsum) and a great companion. Known by the title "Zü'n-Nûreyn" (the possessor of two lights), Hz. Osman is one of the rare individuals who gave his sister in marriage to the Prophet. During his caliphate, Hz. Osman personally performed the duty of imam in the Prophet's Mosque. In 35 AH / 656 AD, one of the groups that rebelled against him and besieged his house attacked him during prayer in the mosque. It is reported that Hz. Osman was martyred while leading prayer at this mihrab; his blood fell on the pages of the Qur'an he was holding. The Silver Dome above the mihrab was constructed in later periods to symbolize this historical significance. During the Ottoman period, various domes and mihrab arrangements were added to the Prophet's Mosque; the Silver Dome is one of them. [Source: "Osman", TDV Islamic Encyclopedia, https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/osman; "Prophet's Mosque", TDV Islamic Encyclopedia, https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/mescid-i-nebevi]