Bayruhaa'

By the Editors of the Madain Project

The Bayruhaa' (بَيْرُحَاء), also known as the Well of Abu Talha, was a historic water-well, once located north of the Prophet's mosque in Madinah, but is currently located inside the Masjid Nabawi. Now buried underneath the mosque's floor, the location is marked by three circular marble mosaics. It's location can be seen just inside the Malik Fahad gate in the north.

Overview

The Bayruhaa', also spelled as Bi'r Ha', was one of the seven famous wells in Madinah during the Prophetic era. Exact reason of its name is not known, however, traditions mention that Ha' was either the name of a man or a woman to whom the well was attributed, though some have said that Ha' was the name of the place where the well was located.

The Prophet Muhammad would often visit this place, sit in the shade of its trees, and drink its water. According to a Sahih Hadith, Abu Talha Al-Ansari owned much wealth in the form of gardens, and the most beloved of his wealth to him was Bi'r Ha', which was situated in front of the mosque. The Prophet used to go there and drink its water. A large number of historical texts recount that he found the water of Bayruhaa’ to be pure and pleasant, making it his preferred place for relaxation during his walks in Madinah.

Brief History

circa 640 CE

Seventh Century CE
One of the most prominent owners of the well was Abu Talha al-Ansari, a Companion of the Prophet. Abu Talha was known for his significant wealth, most of which consisted of gardens around Madinah. The well of Bayruhaa’ was one of his prized possessions. The Sahih Hadith mentions that the Prophet would frequently drink from this well, which heightened its significance among the people of Madinah.

The Prophet’s fondness for Bayruhaa’ is also recorded in the event when Abu Talha made an important decision. Upon hearing the verse from the Qur'an urging believers to spend from their most beloved possessions for the sake of Allah, Abu Talha decided to endow the well and its surrounding garden for the benefit of his relatives and the needy. This act of charity, known as waqf in Islamic tradition, elevated the well's importance as a symbol of selflessness and generosity.

After the passing of Abu Talha, his son Hassaan sold his share of the well to Muawiyah bin Abu Sufyan, the first caliph of the Umayyad dynasty. Muawiyah, appreciating the well's history and proximity to the Prophet's Mosque, constructed a palace on the site. This palace became a landmark in its own right, with several later rulers, including Banu Jadhila and Abu Ja'far al-Mansur (the Abbasid caliph), building their own palaces in the vicinity of the well.

Thirteenth Century CE
Writing in the first half of the thirteenth century CE Ibn Najjar notes that the well is situated inside a very small garden. The garden consists of some date-palm trees, and is surrounded by agricultural land, with a house built on some elevated land nearby. He further mentions that it is situated close to the defensive wall of the Madinah. At the time it was owned by some medinan and still supplied fresh drinking water.

Sixteenth Century CE
Shaikh Abd al-Haqq (Muhaddith) al-Dehlawi, writing in his Jadhb al-Qulub ila Diyar al-Mahbub (Tarikh Madinah), in the second half of the sixteenth century CE mentions the location of the well, that this place is very close to the northern wall of the fort near al-Masjid an-Nabawi. If the fort wall had not been in between, the well would have been even closer to the Prophet’s Mosque. He further notes that during his time, the well is located in a small garden, where there is also a small mosque, and the place is pleasant and spacious.

See Also

References

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