The History of Medina (Part 2)

Islamic History

The History of Medina (Part 2)

Maulana Asif Iqbal Attari Madani

Masjids are Islam’s hallmarks, its fortresses, religious hubs, and centres from where Islam is propagated. Besides al-Masjid al-Nabawi, there are several other masjids in Madinah which are of special importance. They have many beautiful and faith-enhancing memories associated with them. Some of these blessed and historical masjids are mentioned here:

(1) Al-Masjid al-Nabawi: The beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم himself took part in constructing this masjid. The reward of offering one salah in this masjid is equivalent to 50,000 prayers.[1] There are glad tidings of being free from Hell and hypocrisy for the one who offers 40 salah here.[2] Offering one JumuꜤah salah here is better than offering one thousand JumuꜤah salah in any masjid apart from al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, and spending one Ramadan here is superior to observing Ramadan a thousand times in any other masjid.[3]

DuꜤāˈs are readily accepted here, especially near the sanctified resting place of the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Imam Ibn al-Jazarī رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه states: “If duꜤāˈ is not accepted here, then where will it be accepted?”[4] Likewise, duꜤāˈ is also accepted by the blessed minbar (pulpit) and pillars of the masjid.[5]

(2) Masjid Qubā: This masjid is located three kilometres southwest of Madinah in a village named Quba. Allah Almighty mentioned its excellence in the 108^th verse of Sūrah al-Tawbah. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم laid the foundations of this masjid, and he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would visit it every week, sometimes on foot and sometimes using a conveyance.[6] The one who offers salah here is given the reward of umrah.[7] The second Caliph of Islam, Sayyidunā ꜤUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ said, “Even if this masjid was far, we would exhaust our camels to visit it.”[8]

(3) Masjid al-Fatḥ: There are five masjids located at the base of Mount Sela in the north-west direction of Madinah, one of these is Masjid al-Fatḥ. When the Battle of the Trench (Khandaq/Aḥzāb) took place, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم made duꜤāˈ at the site of this masjid for the victory of the Muslims for three days: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It was between Ẓuhr and ꜤAsr on Wednesday that glad tidings of victory were given. Sayyidunā Jābir رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ states, “Whenever I face a difficulty, I go to Masjid al-Fatḥ and make duꜤāˈ, and my difficulty is resolved.”[9]

(4) Masjid al-Ghamāmah: This is a beautiful masjid from the high-domed masjids of Madinah. In 2 AH, the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم performed Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha prayers in the open plains located at this site. He صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم also made duꜤāˈ for rain here, and it began to rain immediately. Sayyidunā ꜤUmar b. ꜤAbd al-ꜤAzīz رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه had a masjid constructed here, and it was named ‘Ghamāmah’, which means ‘cloud’ in Arabic.[10]

(5) Masjid al-Ijābah: This masjid is situated to the northeast of al-BaqīꜤ Cemetery. The Greatest Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم once offered two units of salah here and made three duꜤāˈs. The first two duꜤāˈs were accepted, and one was prevented. The three duꜤāˈs were as follows: (1) O Allah, may my Ummah not perish due to drought. (2) O Allah, may my Ummah not perish due to drowning. (3) O Allah, may my Ummah not quarrel among themselves.[11]

(6) Masjid al-Sajdah: This is located on the site where the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم performed a prolonged prostration, and where Sayyidunā Jibrīl عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم brought the glad tidings to him saying, “Are you not pleased that Allah Almighty states, ‘Whosoever sends ṣalawāt upon you, I will send mercy upon him, and whosoever sends salaam upon you, I will send peace upon him.’”[12]

(7) Masjid al-Mustarāḥ: It is found on the main road towards Uhud. On his return from the Battle of Uhud, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم observed istirāḥah (rested) here for a short while, hence the name al-Mustarāḥ. During the early period of Islam, this masjid was known as Masjid Banī Ḥārithah, as the Banī Ḥārithah (from the Aws tribe) resided here. Sayyidunā Ḥārith b. SaꜤd ꜤUbayd Ḥārithī رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ stated, “The Greatest Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم offered salah in our masjid.”[13]

(8) Masjid al-JumuꜤah: During the Hijrah, after the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم had left Quba and set off for Madinah, it was day, and the time for JumuꜤah salah had commenced whilst he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was with Banī Sālim b. ꜤAwf. The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم offered the first JumuꜤah salah with the Companions عَلَیْہِمُ الرِّضْوَان. A masjid was built in the place where the salah was offered, and it became known as Masjid al-JumuꜤah.[14]

(9) Masjid Dhū al-Ḥulayfah: This masjid is found in the area which is known today as Abyar ˈAli. This is the mīqāt for the residents of Madinah. It was formerly known as Masjid al-Shajarah. When the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would go to Makkah al-Mukarramah, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would offer salah in Masjid al-Shajarah. When returning, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would offer salah in Dhū al-Ḥulayfah, and remain there until morning.[15]

It is mentioned in a narration of Saḥīḥ Muslim that the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم spent the night in Dhū al-Ḥulayfah and offered salah in its masjid.[16] According to another narration, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم offered two units of salah here in the masjid on the way to the Farewell Pilgrimage (Hajjah al-WidāꜤ).[17]

(10) Masjid al-Qiblatayn: This masjid is situated near the plains of al-ꜤArṣah in the valley of ꜤAqīq. The well of Sayyidunā ꜤUthmān b. ꜤAffān رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ, Biˈr al-Rūmah, is located to the north of the masjid. Previously, this masjid was famously known as Masjid Banū Sulaym. In the 17^th month after Hijrah, on Saturday 15^th Rajab, the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم had only offered two units of Ẓuhr salah when the order to change the direction of Qiblah was received. Thus, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم offered the remaining two units in the direction of the Kaaba. This is why it received the name Masjid al-Qiblatayn, i.e. the masjid of the two Qiblahs.[18]