The village is situated on top of a mountain at an altitude of 890 meters above sea level, 4 km north of Jerusalem. It was built around the mosque, which is a prominent landmark and contains the shrine of the Prophet Samuel, from whom the village and the mosque derive their names. The mosque was constructed over the ruins of a Crusader castle and has undergone extensive additions and restorations during the Mamluk and Ottoman periods. From the minaret of the mosque, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the mountains of Jerusalem.
During the Byzantine period, a monastery was established in Nabi Samuel, serving as a hostel for Christian pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. This monastery was restored and expanded during the rule of Emperor Justinian I in the mid-sixth century AD.