ALMISKEENAH

 

Al-Ustawanah, The Columns, The Pillars in the Sacred Garden.

“What is between my house and my minbar is a meadow of the meadows of Jannah, and my minbar is on my pool,” said our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

 

SubhanAllah, the heart bursts. Exploding and descending into unimaginable depths of sweetness. Transported to realms heavenly and divine. Transfixed; not only due to the sanctity and sacredness of this chosen Mubarak piece of ground that Allah Ta’ala has blessed as the earthly parallel of Jannah, but this is where His Habib SallAllahu alaihi wasallam worshipped, taught, listened, received revelations from Jibreel Alaihis Sallam, walked, smiled, fasted, distributed booty, united so many in marriage, prayed Janazah over his daughters, his son, his companions, called for Jihad. This is the very place where thousands of the Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhu walked, sat, listened, worshipped, and where thousands of our illustrious predecessors Rahmatullah alaihum also graced the hallowed ground. And where today, and tomorrow, until Allah Ta’ala deems  otherwise, our pious scholars raise their hands, praising, and seeking  for the entire Ummah, where individuals from every far-flung corner of the globe humbly present themselves to the Mercy of the Worlds SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, where millions more turn their hearts from wherever they may be. Such Shukr that we have been blessed with the power of projecting our hearts and minds to this place regardless of where our physical body may be, and such Shukr that Allah Ta’ala has blessed  us with Angels roaming the entire Universe to convey our Salam and Durood upon His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. SubhanAllah, Alhumdulillah, La ilaha illAllah, Allahu Akbar.

The columns, or pillars in the Sacred Rowdha stand in the exact place where the original palm tree trunks erected by our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and his Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum stood.  Constructed under his SallAllahu alaihi wasallam gaze! This image in itself is enough to induce delirium, and a state of ecstasy! With all the expansions and renovations, the distinct positions have not altered. And each of these honoured places has a soul stirring tale to tell.   

The Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum loved to pray behind these columns, as did billions throughout the centuries and the millions now. Umar Radhiallahu anhu, used to say: “Those who pray have more right to the trunks than those who sit there conversing.” And when he saw a man praying away from them, he pulled him to behind a pillar saying: “pray facing it.” Anas ibn Malik RadhiAllahu anhu said: “I saw the elders among the Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum rush to the pillars at Maghrib to pray, until the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam came out.”  

These columns are marked with a relief medallion near the top, bearing the specific name inscribed in Arabic with golden letters on a green background. (Discernable in the photo below)

1. Al-Ustuwanatul-Mukhallaqah, also known as the Hannana column, and Column of the Mushaf.

This is the thickset column immediately behind the Mihrab.(detail above) It marks the place where Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam used to lead Salat after the direction of Qiblah was changed to the Ka’abah. Various narrations are cited as to the name of “the perfumed pillar”. One states that one day our Beloved Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam saw that someone had spat on the trunk, so one of the Sahabah cleaned it and then applied perfume (Khalooq) to the place. Another account is during the time of the caliph, Haroon Rashid, his mother, Al-Khayzuran, when she came for Hajj in 170 A.H.  perfumed all the pillars, applying more to this one and Aishah’s Pillar.

This column is also named Hannana because it was the site of the trunk of a palm tree against which the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam used to lean during the Khutbah. When he began using the new Minbar the trunk shook and wept, shaking bitterly as if it was going to burst with agony, until our gentle Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam stepped down from the Minbar and calmed it with his hand. He continued to offer Salat at this trunk until work on extensions began during the time of the caliphate of Uthman RadhiAllahu anhu. Some narrations say that it was then moved to the house of Abu ibn Ka’b, where it remained until it decayed, some say it was buried where it was, others say it was buried under the Minbar, while I have also heard some scholars say that it was buried in Jannatul Baqi. And only Allah the Almighty knows the truth.

Hasan Basri Rahmatullah alaihi used to cry when he described these narrations saying: “O you believers, this piece of wood used to cry for the love of Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. You should display more enthusiasm and love to meet the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam on the Day of Judgement.”

Imam Shafi’ said: “The miracles given to the Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu alaihi wasallam were not given to any other Prophet.” A person said to the Imam: “Isa, alaihis Sallam was given the miracle of bringing the dead back to life.” Whereupon Imam Shafi’ replied: “Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was given the miracle where a tree cried. Crying of a dead tree is a bigger miracle indeed.”

The reason why this same column is also known as the Column of the Mushaf is according to a narration by Malik ibn Anas, that Hajjaj ibn Yusuf sent copies of the Qur’an Majeed to many of the major cities at the time, and the one sent to Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah was placed in a box and kept to the right of this column. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

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Insha’Allah, to be continued.

Pardon my recent absence. Allah Ta’ala writes “surprise package scripts” bringing a different focus to one’s sometimes “taken for granted routine”, and the fickle net connection here adds such an intriguing element of another sort! Alhumdulillah ‘alaa kulli hal!  

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.  May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.