The Minbar of the Prophet
The Minbar in the Prophet's Mosque is a notable feature with numerous virtues mentioned in hadiths. The Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's salah and salam be upon him) said, "What is between my house and my Minbar is a garden from the gardens of Paradise, and my Minbar is upon my river (al-Hawdh)" (narrated by Abu Huraira). It is also reported, "Whoever swears a false oath at my minbar, let him take his seat in Hell, even if it is on a green miswak (tooth stick)" (narrated by Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him).
The Story of the Minbar
Initially, the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's salah and salam be upon him) leaned against a trunk of a palm tree when delivering sermons if they were long. As narrated by Abu Buraydah from his father, the Prophet (may Allah's salah and salam be upon him) delivered sermons while standing, and it became difficult for him to stand for long periods. Thus, a palm tree was planted where he would stand so he can rest by leaning on it. A man from Medina saw this and offered to make a Minbar for the Prophet (may Allah's salah and salam be upon him) to rest on. The Prophet (may Allah's salah and salam be upon him) agreed and asked him to make a Minbar. When the Prophet (may Allah's salah and salam be upon him) moved to the minbar, the palm tree cried out loudly.
Jabir ibn 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "The mosque was roofed with palm tree branches, and when the Prophet (may Allah's salah and salam be upon him) delivered sermons, he would stand by one of them. When the minbar was made, he stood on it, and we heard that palm tree crying like a she-camel until the Prophet (may Allah's salah and salam be upon him) came and placed his hand on it, and it calmed down" (narrated by Bukhari).
Specifications of the Prophet's Minbar
Ibn Al-Najjar said, "The height of the Prophet's Minbar (may Allah's salah and salam be upon him) was two cubits, a span, and three fingers, and its width was a cubit. The height of the backrest was a cubit, and the length of the two knobs he would hold with his blessed hands was a span and two fingers. Its maker, according to the most reliable accounts of scholars as pointed out by al-Hafid Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy upon him), was Maymun, a carpenter in Medina."
Stages of Development of the Minbar Over History:
- During the Prophet's Time and his Rightly Guided Successors: The minbar consisted of two steps and a seat.
- During the Umawy Era: Marwan ibn al-Hakam added six steps to the Minbar during the caliphate of Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him), making it nine steps.
- During the Abbasi Era: The Minbar was renewed due to its age.
- In 656 AH: The Prophet's Mosque and Minbar burned down, and King al-Mudhaffar sent a new Minbar.
- In 664 AH: Sultan az-Zahir Baybars sent a new Minbar, which remained until 797 AH.
- In 797 AH: Sultan az-Zahir Barquq sent a new Minbar.
- In 820 AH: Sultan Al-Muayad Sheikh sent a new Minbar.
- In 886 AH: The Prophet's Mosque and Minbar burned down again, and the people of Madinah built a Minbar from bricks.
- In 888 AH: Sultan al-Ashraf 'Qaitabay sent a marble Minbar, replacing the previous one.
- In 998 AH: Sultan Murad of the Ottoman Empire sent a beautifully decorated marble Minbar with twelve steps—three outside the door and nine inside. It is topped with a fine pyramid dome supported by four pillars. This is the Minbar currently present in the Prophet's Mosque.