ALMISKEENAH

 

My Minbar is on my pool.

My Minbar is a tura’a (various translations describe tura’a as a door, a step and other scholars have said it means a garden in a raised platform) of Jannah.

The feet of my Minbar will be steps of a ladder for Jannah.

The corners of my Minbar are firmly planted in Jannah.

 

Such blessed descriptions from our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam of his Minbar. Whatever the external appearance the Minbar has, or ever will have, the fact remains that our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam addressed the stellar Sahabah RadhiAllahu with his weekly Khutab from the Mubarak ground where this lavish Ottoman structure now stands.

As mentioned in previous posts, Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam initially delivered the Khutbah leaning on a palm tree trunk which was positioned near the original Mihrab. During the eighth year after hijrah, when the number of Sahabah had greatly increased, and it was difficult for the assembled crowd to see and hear the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, it was suggested that a new raised Minbar be constructed.

Narrated Jabir RadhiAllahu anhu: “A woman said, "O Allah’s Apostle! Shall I get something constructed for you to sit on as I have a slave who is a carpenter?" He replied, "Yes, if you like." So she had that pulpit constructed.”

It is recorded that the wood for this simple three stepped edifice was from Al-Ghaba, a forested area approximately 10 kilometers north west of Masjid Nabawi.  This land was owned by Az-Zabair ibn Al-‘Alawwam and his wife Asma RadhiAllahu anhum, they purchased it for one hundred and seventy thousand dirham. They established the first abattoir for the residents of this Enlightened City. When he died it was sold for one million six hundred thousand dirham! Ruins of a pond that existed at the time still exist till now. 

Sahl bin Sa’d was asked about the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam pulpit as to what thing it was made of?  Sahl replied: "None remains alive amongst the people, who know about it better than I. It was made of tamarisk wood of the forest. So and so, the slave of so and so prepared it for Allah’s Apostle. When it was constructed and placed in the Masjid, Allah’s Apostle stood on it facing the Qibla and said ‘Allahu Akbar’, and the people stood behind him and led the people in prayer. He recited and bowed and the people bowed behind him. Then he raised his head and stepped back, got down and prostrated on the ground and then he again ascended the pulpit, recited, bowed, raised his head and stepped back, got down and prostrate on the ground. So, this is what I know about the pulpit."

Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam used to sit on the third step, placing his Mubarak feet on the second step. Later, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq RadhiAllahu anhu, would sit on the second step, placing his feet on the first step, and then ‘Umar ibn Khattab RadhiAllahu anhu would sit on the first step, placing his feet on the ground. For six years Caliph Uthman RadhiAllahu anhu  followed the habit of ‘Umar RadhiAllahu anhu, but then began to deliver the Khutbah from the third rung as did Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

 Numerous renovations have taken place over the centuries.

When Mu’awiyah RadhiAllahu anhu was Amir, he extended the height of the Minbar to that of nine rungs, with the Khateeb sitting on the seventh rung.

It has been narrated that during this time the original three wooded steps were showing signs of deterioration. Wooden structures do not survive the intense weather conditions here, or the presence of white ants who favour all things wooden. So Mu’awiyah RadhiAllahu anhu decided to replace these three rings from the time of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. When the attempt to remove these steps began, the sky blackened, to the extent that stars appeared in the sky, even though it was day time. People were fearful, wondering what terrible punishment was being sent to them. Mu’awiyah RadhiAllahu anhu ordered the halt of the renovations and decided instead of replacing the three steps to place them as the top three rungs. SubhanAllah! Just as the palm tree trunk had wept and was so saddened, so too were these three steps.

In 654 A.H. the Minbar was burnt during the fire that damaged the Masjid, so in 656 A.H. Al-Muzahar who was the ruler of Yemen at the time sent a Minbar that was used for ten years. The next one was a gift from Egypt, from Al-Zahir Baibarus in the year 666 A.H. This was again replaced in 797 A.H. by Al-Zahir Barquq, and then another sent by Al-Muayid in 820 A.H.

In 886A.H. another fire destroyed the Minbar. This time the people of Madinah constructed a brick replacement, painting it with a coat of white paint. After two years Al-Ashraf Qaitabai sent a more sophisticated marble replacement which remained until the Ottoman Sultan Murad the Third in 998 A.H. sent the current Minbar.  The elegant Qaitabai one is now in Masjid Quba, below.

 

The present Haram Shareef Minbar is made of an expensive marble with gold decorations. A dome sits on marble columns creating an elongated appearance. There are twelve steps, three which are outside the door, with nine inside. The richly ornamented door has the following written above it:

“Sultan Murad bin Saleem sent this to be rewarded on the Day of Judgement. May his kingdom be high forever. The best of cities be under his peaceful control. For the Garden of Prophet Muhammad  SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala’s Graces and Honours be bestowed upon him since all people received guidance through him. This pulpit is built with full sincerity to seek guidance and blessing. May much guidance be imparted from the top of this pulpit to thise who seek this guidance. Sa’ad composed these verses and the pulpit was made by Sultan Murad in 997 A.H.”

Ibn Najjar said: “The pulpit will be placed on the Haud Kawthar and it will be reborn just like all other creatures of Allah Ta’ala on the Day of Judgement.” And Ibn Hajar agrees with this explanation, while Khattabi explains this to mean that due to the good deeds enacted near the Minbar it will be honoured with being placed at the Haud Kawthar, SubhanAllah!

On the other hand according to a Hadith, if a person makes a false oath near the Prophet’s Minbar, even if it were about, or as little as a green siwak, then that person will take his place in Jahannam. Audhu BiLlah.

Narrated Aishah, Ummul Mu’minin RadhiAllahu anha: “The Apostle of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam used to setup a pulpit in the mosque for Hassan Radhiallahu anhu who would stand on it and satirize those who spoke against the Apostle of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. The Apostle of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam would say: The spirit of holiness, Gabriel is with Hassan RadhiAllahu anhu so long as he speaks in defense of the Apostle of Allah.”

On another occasion the beloved Hassan and Hussein RadhiAllahu anhuma, dressed in red shirts, playfully arrived in the Masjid when their blessed grandfather SallAllahu alaihi wasallam when he was on the Minbar.  He came down from the Minbar, took them and ascended it with them. He then said: Allah truly said:

Your property and your children are only a test for you. (64.15),

Another narration states: Allah’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam mounted the pulpit and called in a loud voice, "You who have accepted Islam with your tongues but whose hearts have not been reached by faith, do not annoy the Muslims, or revile them, or seek out their faults; for he who seeks out the faults of his brother Muslim will have his faults sought out by Allah and he whose faults are sought out by Allah will be exposed by Him, even though he should be in the interior of his house."

The Prophet led us in prayer and then went up to the pulpit and beckoned with both hands towards the Qiblah of the mosque and then said, "When I started leading you in prayer, I saw the display of Paradise and Hell on the wall of the mosque facing the Qiblah. I never saw good and bad as I have seen today." He repeated the last statement thrice.

Imagine! Any wonder that the sky turned black at the thought of these humble wooden steps to be removed. SubhanAllah, such a sublime heritage we have been blessed with.

SubhanAllah! Such a blessed piece of Jannah! With so much said at this hallowed place from the Mubarak lips of our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam to assist us on the path to Jannah! May we take heed and all meet in Jannah by the Haud Kawthar, Ameen.

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.