The Prophet's Chamber
The Prophet's Chamber, the home of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Aisha, is the place of the Prophet's demise and his burial site. It is located in the city of Medina within the premises of the Masjid al-nabi. This house, like the other houses of the Prophet's wives, was attached to the [Masjid al-nabi, and its door opened into the mosque. Later, with the expansion of the Masjid al-nabi, it became part of its interior.
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| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Other Names | Al-sharīfa Chamber |
| Place | Medina, Masjid al-Nabi |
| Usage | Aisha's Chamber and residence |
| Religious Aspect | |
| Religious Affiliation | Islam |
| Beliefs | Tawaf and blessings of the angels around the Prophet's grave |
| History | |
| Time of Construction | Simultaneously with the construction of Masjid al-Nabi |
| Events | Burial of Abu Bakr and Umar in this place |
| Reconstructions | Construction of the wall around the Al-sharīfa Chamber, the construction of a wooden enclosure around the cell and the addition of Fatima's house in this enclosure. |
| Reconstructors | Baybaras, Walid ibn Abdul Malik |
Location
During the construction of the Prophet's Mosque, chambers were built on its eastern side for the residence of the Prophet and his wives. Initially, a chamber was built for Suda, followed by one for Aisha, and extending from there, another chamber was constructed for Fatima(a).[1] The Noble Chamber is the title given to the chamber of Aisha because the Prophet passed away in this chamber and was buried at the same location.[2] This chamber is situated in the east of the mosque, and its door opens into the Rawdah of the Prophet.[3]
The Prophet's burial place is in this Chamber
The Prophet passed away in the chamber of Aisha.[4] However, some sources believe that the resting place and burial site of the Prophet are between the chamber of Aisha and the Fatima's house, belonging to none of his wives.[5]
After the Prophet's demise, discussions arose about the location of his burial. Abu Bakr mentioned that he had heard from the Prophet that every prophet is buried at the place where they breathe their last. Consequently, the Prophet was buried in Aisha's chamber, and his grave was placed in the southern part of the chamber.[6]
Those who are buried in this Chamber
After the Prophet's burial, Aisha lived in the northern part of the chamber, and there was no curtain between her and the grave. After the death of Abu Bakr, his body was buried next to the Prophet's grave, with a forearm's distance, and his head was aligned with the Prophet's shoulders.[7]
Following the death of Umar, Aisha allowed him to be buried in the chamber as well. Consequently, with a forearm's distance, Umar's head was placed opposite the shoulders of Abu Bakr. After Umar's burial, Aisha drew a curtain between the graves and her living space, as Umar's presence was considered non-mahram for her.[8]
reconstructions
During the reconstruction of the Prophet's Mosque in the time of Walid ibn Abdul Malik, a pentagonal wall was erected around this Chamber, and a portion of the Prophet's Rawdah was included within this enclosure.[9]
In the Mamluk Baybaras period, a wooden enclosure was constructed around the chamber of Aisha, and the house of Fatima(a) was also placed inside this enclosure.[10] In this way, a part of the Prophet's Rawdah and the house of Fatima(a) became part of the space now referred to as the Chamber. The area of the Noble Chamber, including these additions, is 240 square meters (16 meters in length and 15 meters in width), and a golden grille has been installed around it.[11]
Gallary
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Map of Masjid al-Nabi. The Prophet's grave is in his Chamber on the left side of the picture.
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The map of the houses around Masjid al-Nabi showing the location of Aisha's Chamber in the south of the mosque.
Notes
- ↑ Jaʿfarīyān, Āthār-i islāmi-yi Makka wa Madīna, p. 217-218.
- ↑ Anṣārī, ʿImārah wa tawsiah al-masjid al-nabawīī, p. 61.
- ↑ Anṣārī, ʿImārah wa tawsiah al-masjid al-nabawīī, p. 61.
- ↑ Anṣārī, ʿImārah wa tawsiah al-masjid al-nabawīī, p. 62.
- ↑ Jaʿfarīyān, Āthār-i islāmi-yi Makka wa Madīna, p. 218.
- ↑ Anṣārī, ʿImārah wa tawsiah al-masjid al-nabawīī, p. 62; Shanqīṭī, Al-Durra al-thamīn fī maʿālim dār al-rasūl al-Amīn, p. 69.
- ↑ Anṣārī, ʿImārah wa tawsiah al-masjid al-nabawīī, p. 62; Shanqīṭī, Al-Durra al-thamīn fī maʿālim dār al-rasūl al-Amīn, p. 69.
- ↑ Anṣārī, ʿImārah wa tawsiah al-masjid al-nabawīī, p. 62; Shanqīṭī, Al-Durra al-thamīn fī maʿālim dār al-rasūl al-Amīn, p. 69.
- ↑ Anṣārī, ʿImārah wa tawsiah al-masjid al-nabawīī, p. 66.
- ↑ Anṣārī, ʿImārah wa tawsiah al-masjid al-nabawīī, p. 124.
- ↑ Jaʿfarīyān, Āthār-i islāmi-yi Makka wa Madīna, p. 219.
References
- Anṣārī, 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.
- Jaʿfariyān, Rasūl. Āthār-i islāmi-yi Makka wa Madīna. Tehran: Mashʿar, 1382 Sh.
- Shanqīṭī, Ghāī Muḥammad al-Amīn al-. Al-Durra al-thamīn fī maʿālim dār al-rasūl al-Amīn. Beirut: Muʾassisa ʿUlūm al-Qurʾān, 1991.