Masjid Bani Haram: Madinah’s miraculous historic landmark
The Mosque of Bani Haram is one of the historic mosques in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, on the western side of Mount Sela. It is located less than 2kms from Masjid al-Nabawi (the Prophet’s Mosque), in an area where the people of the Bani Haram tribe lived.
Masjid Bani Haram is among the mosques that were renovated in the Prince Mohammed bin Salman project for the development of historical mosques which targeted 30 mosques across Saudi Arabia. Its original design was preserved during the renovations to reflect its ancient heritage which dates about 14 centuries back.
The mosque’s area was increased from the previous 10 square metres to 236.42 square metres, but its capacity remained at 172 worshipers.
Natural materials of clay, stones, and wood from local trees were used to reconstruct this historic mosque in fulfilment of the Prince Mohammad bin Salman project’s objective of achieving a balance between ancient and modern construction standards in a way that gives the of mosques an appropriate degree of sustainability as well as integrate the effects of development with a set of heritage and historical characteristics.
Before the battle of Khandaq (the trench), Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) camped there during the digging of the trench in 627 AD.
When news of an advancing army of the pagan Qurayshi reached Madinah, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), on the advice of Salman Farsi, asked the Muslims to dig a deep trench to impede the Quraysh advance on Madinah. The house of Jabir ibn Abdullah was located here, and several accounts of miracles are considered to be witnessed in his house.
The Muslims got so tired and hungry, and when Jabir realized that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) hungry; he went to his wife and asked her to prepare food.
The wife told him that they have a small sheep as well as some barley which was the only food left with them. Jabir asked her to cook the sheep and make bread from the barley she had.
When it was too dark to continue working, Jabir secretly went to the Prophet as he was leaving the trench and invited him to the meal of mutton and barley bread. “The Prophet put his palm against mine”, said Jabir, “and knotted his fingers through my fingers. I wanted him to come alone, but he told a cryer to call out, ’Go with the messenger of God unto the house of Jabir. Respond, for Jabir invites you.’”
Out of shock, Jabir replied, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un” [Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, to Him we return]. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to him, “Do not take the pot off the fire, and do not bake your dough until I come.”
Jabir went home to warn his wife. “Did you invite them or did he?” she asked. “No, he invited them,” replied Jabir. “Then let them come,” she responded, “for he knows best.”
The meal was placed in front of the Prophet (peace be upon him) who blessed it. He then took out some food from the pot and served his companions, keeping both the pot and the oven covered. There were ten sitting down with him, and when they had all eaten to their fill, they rose and went to their homes, making room for ten more, and so it went on until all the Muslims at the trench had satisfied their hunger. Amazingly there still remained some mutton and some bread.
After everyone had eaten the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Eat and give to other people for they have suffered hunger.” [Al-Bukhari]
