Al-Mukhallaqa Pillar: Difference between revisions

'''Mukhallaqa pillar'''(Arabic: مُخَلَّقَه) is one of the pillars of [[Masjid al-Nabi]] and the closest pillar to [[Prophet's Mihrab|mihrab of Prophet]](a), which was the place where incense was placed to perfume the Masjid al-Nabi. After [[changeing Qibla]] in the second year of Hijra/ 624 , the Prophet used to pray in front of this pillar for some time. Therefore, this pillar, which was the sign of the Prophet's prayer, was called the “ʿAlam(sign) pillar”.

the sources mentions that blessing this pillar is recommended and prayers next to it is fulfilled. It is also reported that [[Imam Rida(a)]] prayed 6 or 8 [[rakats]] next to this pillar.

==Concept==

The arabic word, Mukhallaqa(مُخَلَّقه), is from Khalūq(خَلوق) or Khalāq(خَلاق) means good smell, it is a type of perfume whose major part is saffron.<ref>Ibn Manẓūr, ''Lisān al-ʿArab'', vol. 10, p. 91, word(خلق)</ref> This pillar was named Mukhallkha(Perfumed) because of that, to perfume the mosque, it was smeared with perfume or incense was burned on it.<ref>Qāʾidān, ''Tārīkh wa āthār-i Islāmi Makka wa Madīna'', p. 191.</ref>

There are several narrations of the first people who tried to perfume the mosque, which are as follows:

*It is said that the first person who perfumed the [[Al-Masjid al-Nabawi|Prophet's Mosque]] was the wife of Uthman b. Mazʿun, one of the first Muslims, when his wife spat in the mosque, he washed and perfumed it.<ref>Najjār,''Al-Durra al-thamīna'', p. 100.</ref>

*According to [[Jabir b. Abd Allah al-Ansari]], the first person who perfumed the Prophet's Mosque was [[Uthman b. Affan]].<ref>Najjār,''Al-Durra al-thamīna'', p. 100; Yamānī, ''Mawsūʿa makka al-mukarrama'', vol. 2, p. 436.</ref>

*During the Umayyah rule, [[Umar b. Abdul Aziz]] (R:99-101/717-8 -720) and during the Abbasid period<ref>Yamānī, ''Mawsūʿa makka al-mukarrama'', vol. 2, p. 436; Samhūdī, ''Wafāʾ al-wafā'', vol. 1, p. 281.</ref>, [[Khayzran]], the mother of [[Harun al-Rashid]], did this work in 170 AH/786-7.<ref>Samhūdī, ''Wafāʾ al-wafā'', vol. 1, p. 350.</ref> It seems that since then, making the atmosphere of the mosque fragrant became popular.

==ʿAlam pillar==

After [[changing of the Qibla]] in the second year of Hijra/624, Prophet Muhammad(a) used to stand in front of this pillar to pray for some time. Then he prayed at the current mihrab, which is known as the [[Prophet's Mihrab|prophet's mihrab]], and this pillar, which was closer to the mihrab than the other pillars, was placed behind the mihrab. It was also called "Alam" which means the sign of the Prophet's prayer and [[Qibla]].<ref>Sayyid al-Wakīl, ''Al-masjid al-nabawīī ʿabar tārīkh'', p. 50; Samhūdī, ''Wafāʾ al-wafā'', vol. 2, p. 174.</ref> Some biographers consider this pillar as the [[pillar of Tawba]] (repentance);<ref>Ṣāliḥī Damishqī, ''Subul al-hudā'', vol. 5, p. 8; Ḥalabī, ''Al-Sīra al-ḥalabiyya'', vol. 2, p. 664.</ref> But Waqidi based on narration considered them two separate pillars<ref>Wāqidī, ''Al-Maghāzī'', vol. 2, p. 507.</ref>.

One of the places where prayers are fulfilled is considered to be next to the Mukhallaqa pillar.<ref>Ṣāliḥī Damishqī, ''Subul al-hudā'', vol. 3, p. 322.</ref> According to a report, [[Salma b. Akuaʿ]], a companion and narrator of hadith of the Prophet, tried to perform his prayer near this pillar, and when they asked him the reason for it, he considered this to be the behavior of the Prophet.<ref>Ibn Ḥanbal, ''Musnad al-Imām Aḥmad'', vol. 4, p. 48; Bukhārī, ''Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī'', vol. 1, p. 127; Samhūdī, ''Wafāʾ al-wafā'', vol. 2, p. 174.</ref>

*Qāʾidān, Aṣghar. ''Tārīkh wa āthār-i Islāmi Makka wa Madīna''. 4th edition. Qom: Nashr-i Mashʿar, 1381 Sh.