It is stated in a blessed Hadees: The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would stand up when he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would deliver a Khutbah [sermon]. He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would then prolong the Qiyam [state of standing], so it would become difficult to remain standing. Therefore, a trunk of date palm was brought and fixed in the ground by the side of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. When the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would deliver Khutbah and prolong the Qiyam, he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would rest against it and get support. (Sunan Daarimi, vol. 1, pp. 29, Hadees 32)
The blessed companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم humbly said, ‘People have increased in number. May we get a Mimber [pulpit] prepared for you on which you may stand and deliver the Khutbah?’ The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم granted the permission. (Dalaail-un-Nubuwwah li Abi Na’eem, pp. 238, Hadees 307)
Who built the pulpit and what material did he use?
Sayyiduna Sahl Bin Sa’d رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ has stated that Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم sent a message to a woman, ‘From your slave who is a carpenter, get something prepared for me out of wood on which I may sit and talk to the people.’ That woman ordered her slave to make a pulpit of the wood of the riverine tree from the jungle. When he made and brought it, the woman presented it in the court of Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. It was placed according to the order of Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, and he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم sat on it. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 2, pp. 17, Hadees 2094)
The trunk of date palm started weeping
When the blessed pulpit was ready and the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ascended it for delivering Khutbah, weeping voice was heard from the trunk of date palm. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stroked it with his affectionate hand, so it became quiet. Then it was buried beneath the pulpit as per command of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 2, pp. 497, Hadees 3585; Sunan Daarimi, vol. 1, pp. 29, Hadees 32; Wafa-ul-Wafa, vol. 1, pp. 390)
Description of the pulpit
The height of the blessed pulpit was two yards and the width was one yard. (Madarij-un-Nubuwwah, vol. 2, pp. 326)
It had three steps; every step was one hand span high and its width was an arm’s length. (Mirat-ul-Manajeeh, vol. 2, pp. 193)
The pulpit had three steps other than that step used for sitting. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would deliver Khutbah on the first step [from the top]; (Sayyiduna) Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ delivered [Khutbah] on the second step and (Sayyiduna) Farooq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ [delivered it] on the third step. (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 8, pp. 343)
Chador on the pulpit
Sayyiduna ‘Usman-e-Ghani رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was the first one to place Qibtee [Egyptian] chador on the Pulpit. (Seerat Halbiyyah, vol. 2, pp. 196)
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