Al-Tawba pillar or the pillar of Abu lubaba is one of the pillars of Masjid al-Nabi and the place of repentance of Abul Baba Ansari, a companion of the Prophet (PBUH), in the Battle of Bani Qurayzah. Feeling guilty for collaborating with the Jews of Bani Qurayzah, Abul Baba went to Masjid al-Nabi and tied himself to this pillar until his repentance was accepted. It is recommended to pray next to this pillar.
Location
The Pillar of Tawba is located in Masjid al-Nabi and in the area of Rawza al-Nabi,[1] and the distance from it to the Prophet's grave is two pillars.[2] This pillar is the fourth pillar from the side of the Prophet's pulpit and the third pillar from the Qiblah side.[3] The Al-Qurʿa Pillar is located on its west side, and the door of the Prophet's house, which opens into the mosque, is on the level of this pillar. For this reason, it is called Bab al-Tawbah.[4]
Abulubaba's repentance
According to the famous report, after the Banu Qurayza Jews broke the agreement in the Ahzab Ghazwa and their action against the Prophet, their castles were surrounded. The Jews asked the Prophet to send his ally, Abu lubaba, to them for consultation. When Abu lubaba reached the Jews, in response to their submission to the Prophet, he pointed to his throat with his hand and told them that they would be killed if they surrendered.According to what Abu lubaba himself said, he had not yet taken a step when the feeling of betraying God and the Prophet took hold of him and to get rid of the torment of his conscience, he went to Masjid al-Nabi and tied himself to a pillar with a rope and swore that he would not allow anyone but the Prophet to remove him from that pillar.
- Ibn Zabāla. Akhbār al-madīna. Medina: Markaz Buḥūth wa Darāsāt al-Madina al-Munawwara, 1424 AH.
- Yamānī, Aḥmad Zakkī. Mawsūʿa makka al-mukarrama wa al-madina al-munawwara. London: Muʾssisa al-furqān, 1429 AH.
- Ansārī, Nājī Muḥammad Ḥasan ʿabdu l-qādir al-. ʿImārah wa tawsiah al-masjid al-nabawīī al-sharīf ʿabar tārīkh. [n.p], Nādī al-madīna al-munawwara al-adabī, 1996.
- Qāʾidān, Aṣghar. Tārīkh wa āthār-i Islāmi Makka wa Madīna. 4th edition. Qom: Nashr-i Mashʿar, 1381 Sh.