Al-Tawba Pillar: Difference between revisions

  | image description = A view of the al-Tawba pillar with [[al-Sarir pillar]] on the left.

  | other names = pillar of Abu Lubaba

  | place = [[Medina]], [[al-Masjid al-Nabawi]]

  | status = The fourth pillar from the [[Prophet's pulpit]], the second pillar from the [[Prophet's grave]], and the third pillar from the direction of the [[Qibla]]

'''Al-Tawba pillar''' (Arabic: {{ia|أسطوانة التوبة}}, pillar of repentance) known also as the Pillar of Abu Lubaba, is a significant marker within the Prophet's Mosque. It holds historical importance as the place where Abu Lubabah, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (s), sought repentance after his transgression during the Battle of Banu Qurayzah. Abu Lubabah bound himself to this pillar until his repentance was accepted. It is recommended to offer prayers in its vicinity.

 

'''The Pillar of Tawba''' is situated within the '''[[Rawdat al-Nabi]]''' section of [[the Prophet's Mosque]].<ref>Yamānī,''Mawsūʿa makka al-mukarrama'', vol. 2, p. 423.</ref> It's positioned two pillars away from the Prophet's grave.<ref>Ibn Zabāla, ''Akhbār al-Madīna'', p. 102.</ref> When considering the mosque's layout, the pillar is the fourth one from the Prophet's pulpit and the third from the Qibla wall.<ref>Ansārī, ''Imārah wa tawsiʿat al-Masjid al-Nabawīī'', p. 70.</ref> Adjacent to it is the [[al-Qur'a Pillar]], and notably, the door to [[the Prophet's house]], often referred to as the "Door of Repentance" (Bab al-Tawbah), aligns with the level of the al-Tawba Pillar.<ref>Qāʾidān, ''Tārīkh wa āthār-i Islāmi-yi Makka wa Madīna'', p. 203-206.</ref>

 

==Abu Lubaba's repentance==

Following the [[Battle of the Trench]], where the [[Banu Qurayza]] broke their alliance with the Muslims and sided with the enemy, their fortress was besieged. In a desperate attempt to influence the outcome, the Banu Qurayza requested that Abu Lubabah, a trusted companion of the Prophet Muhammad, be allowed to consult with them.

 

Upon reaching the Banu Qurayza, Abu Lubabah in response to their intent of submission to the Prophet (s), he pointed to his throat and showed them that they would be killed if they surrender. According to Abu Lubaba before taking a step he was overwhelmed by guilt and remorse, he immediately sought forgiveness by binding himself to a pillar within the Prophet's Mosque and swore that he would not allow anyone but the Prophet to remove him from that pillar.<ref>Wāqidī, ''al-Maghāzī'', vol. 2, p. 509; Ibn Hishām, ''al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya'', vol. 4, p. 196-197; Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 4, p. 376; Ansārī, ''Imārah wa tawsiʿat al-Masjid al-Nabawīī'', p. 70.</ref>

 

After six,<ref> Ibn Hishām, ''al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya'', vol. 2, p. 237.</ref> seven<ref>Wāqidī, ''al-Maghāzī'', vol. 2, p. 509.</ref> or 20 nights<ref>Ibn Kathīr, ''al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya'', vol. 4, p. 137.</ref> a verse of Quran was revealed,{{enote|{{ia| یَا أَیُّهَا الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا لاَ تَخُونُوا اللهَ و الرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوا أَمَانَاتِکُم وَأَنتُم تَعلَمُونَ }}, O believers, betray not God and the Messenger, and betray not your trusts and that wittingly (Quran: 8:27)}} and his repentance was accepted.<ref>Wāḥidī, ''Asbāb al-nuzūl'', p. 157; Zamakhsharī, ''Tafsīr al-kashshāf'', vol. 2, p. 213; Ṭabrisī, ''Majmaʿ al-bayān'', vol. 4, p. 823.</ref>

 

Tradition holds that the Prophet Muhammad (s) primarily offered his [[nafila prayers]] near the Pillar of Repentance.<ref>Samhūdī, ''Wafāʾ al-wafā'', vol. 2, p. 180.</ref> Following morning prayers, he would often sit by this pillar, engaging in conversation with the poor and weak until sunrise. During these gatherings, he would share newly revealed Quranic verses.<ref>Ḥalabī, ''al-Sīra al-Ḥalabīyya'', vol 2, p. 664.</ref> Historical accounts also indicate that the Prophet occasionally performed [[i'tikaf]] near this pillar<ref>Ḥillī, ''Kitāb al-sarāʾir'', vol.1, p. 652.</ref> and placed his bed behind it.<ref>Ibn Zabāla, ''Akhbār al-Madīna'', p. 102.</ref>

According to hadiths, it is recommended for pilgrims of [[Medina]] to stay in this city from Wednesday to Friday and fast and perform their prayers near Al-Tawba pillar on Wednesday.<ref>Kulaynī, ''al-Kāfī'', vol. 4, p. 558; Ḥillī, ''Kitāb al-sarāʾir'', vol. 1, p. 652.</ref> It is also recommended to say prayers,<ref>Ibn al-Mashhadī, ''al-Mazār'', p. 65.</ref> pray<ref>Ṣadūq, ''Man lā yaḥḍuruh al-faqīh'', vol. 2, p. 572.</ref> and seek blessings from this pillar.<ref>Amīnī, ''al-Ghadīr'', vol. 5, p. 124; Subḥānī, ''al-Zīyāra fī l-kitāb wa al-sunna'', p. 40.</ref>

file:نقشه مسجدالنبی و ستون‌های آن.webp|The map of [[Masjid al-Nabi]] where number 3 shows the location of the al-Tawba pillar.

file:ستون توبه۴.png|A view of the al-Tawba pillar from [[the prophet's pulpit]] (the al-Tawba pillar is the fourth pillar after the prophet's pulpit).

file:ستون توبه۳.jpeg|An inscription engraved on the top of the Al-Tawba pillar: «هذه اسطوانة ابی‌لبابة و تعرف بالتوبة»{{enote|This is the pillar of Abu Lubaba, and is known as "al-Tawba".}}

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*Ansārī, Nājī Muḥammad Ḥasan ʿAbd al-Qādir al-. ''Imārah wa tawsiʿat al-Masjid al-Nabawī al-sharīf  ʿibar tārīkh''. Nādī al-Madīna al-Munawwara al-Adabī, 1996.  

*Ḥalabī, Nūr al-Dīn. ''Al-Sīra al-Ḥalabīyya''. Edited by ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad Khalīlī. Beirut: 1422 AH/2002.

*Ḥillī, Ibn Idrīs al-. ''Kitāb al-sarāʾir al-ḥāwī li-taḥrīr al-fatāwī''. Qom: Daftar-i Intishārāt-i Islāmī, 1410 AH.

*Ibn Zabāla. ''Akhbār al-Madīna''. Medina: Markaz Buḥūth wa Dirāsāt al-Madina al-Munawwara, 1424 AH.

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*Ibn Saʿd, Muḥammad. ''Al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā''. Beirut: Dār Ṣādir, [n.d].

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*Samhūdī, ʿAlī b. ʿAbd Allāh al-. ''Wafāʾ al-wafā bi-akhbār dar al-Muṣṭafā''. Edited by Muḥammad Muḥyi al-Dīn ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd. Beirut: 1984.

*Subḥānī, Jaʿfar. ''Al-Zīyāra fī al-kitāb wa l-sunna''. Tehran: Mashʿar, 1416 AH.

*Ṭabrisī, al-Faḍl b. al-Ḥasan al-. ''Majmaʿ al-bayān fī tafsīr al-Qurʾān''. Beirut: Dār al-Maʿrifa, 1406 AH.

*Ṭūsī, Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan al-. ''Al-Nihāya fī mujarrad al-fiqh wa l-fatāwā''. Beirut: Dār al-Kutub al-ʿArabiyya, 1400 AH.

*Wāḥidī, Alī b. Aḥmad. ''Asbāb al-nuzūl al-Qurʾān''. Edited by Kamāl Basyūnī Zaghlūl. Beirut: Dār al-Kutub al-Ilmīyya, 1411 AH.

*Yamānī, Aḥmad Zakī. ''Mawsūʿat Makkat al-mukarrama wa l-Madinat al-munawwara''. London: Muʾssisa al-Furqān, 1429 AH.