‘Whoever builds a masjid for the sake of Allah, Allah will build a house for him in Paradise’: Tirmidhi Sharif I begin in the name of Allah, the most kind and most compassionate When you enter the Masjid-e-Nabawi by the Door of Jibreel, Riaz ul Jannah is the piece of land on the left, between the Blessed Grave and the pulpit of the Messenger (SAW). Its length is 22 meters and the width is 15 meters. Riaz ul Jannah means a ‘garden in heaven’. Though the whole Masjid-e-Nabawai is a treasure of the good and blessings but this piece of land is a special part of this treasure. The respected Prophet (SAW) himself granted it with this title. He said: “The place between my pulpit and my house is a garden among the garden of the paradise.” Being a garden could mean that this is a living piece of paradise which has been shifted from the Heaven here, the way the Black Stone was shifted to the Earth for Respected Ibrahim (AS), or, this could mean that it will be lifted to Paradise on the Day of Judgment and thus shall be revealed its prominent beauty which stays hidden from the usual eye. The 8 pillars of this part of the mosque are known for certain blessings and qualities.
The Pillar of Hanana: It is adjacent to the private prayer room of the Messenger (SAW). There was a stem of a dry date-palm on which the Respected Prophet (SAW) used to lean when delivering a sermon. A pulpit was prepared for the Messenger (SAW) and when he delivered a speech from the platform, this stem could not bear the pain of separation from the Prophet (SAW) and wept. The Prophet (SAW) came down from the pulpit and stroked it kindly and it thus it stopped weeping. This stem is buried in the same place.
The Pillar of Aisha: It is also known as the Pillar of the Blow. The Prophet (SAW) once said that there is a part of land near this pillar and If he revealed it, there would be such a great crowd wanting to pray there that there would be much jostling and blows. It is said that Respected Aisha (RA) knew this place and she had shown it to her nephew Ibn-e-Zubair (RA) as some companions of the Prohphet (SAW) reported to have seen him praying a little to the right of the Pillar.
The Pillar of Abi Lubaba (RA): Its second name is the Pillar of Penitence. It is to the left of the Pillar of Aisha (RA). After some mistake, a companion of the Prophet (SAW) Respected Abu Lubaba (RA) had tied himself up to this pillar and had sworn that he would remain tied up until the Prophet (SAW) freed him with his own blessed hands. Allah (SWT) forgave his mistake and the Prophet (SAW) freed him.
The Pillar of Sareer: A four-poster cot is called a Sareer. When the Prophet (SAW) stayed in the masjid for i’tikaf, he used to lay his four-poster here.
The Pillar of Hiras: Hiras means watch, supervision or protection. Before the verse of protection was revealed, the companions of the Prophet (SAW) used to stand here to keep watch over the Messenger (SAW). Respected Ali (RA) also served this duty. This is why some people called it the Pillar of Ali (RA) as well.
Pillar of the Delegations: This is the place where delegations coming abroad used to meet and speak with the Prophet (SAW).
The Pillar of Tahajjud: This is the place where the Prophet (SAW) used to perform his tahajjud salat. This place is located in the direction of the Ka’aba, right in front of the blessed Suffa.
The Pillar of Jibreel: This is the place where the Messenger (SAW) used to meet with Jibreel. In the Ramadan month before his demise, the Prophet (SAW) had revised the Quran with Jibreel (AS) in the same place.
Mehrab and Minbar: There is a mehrab made by the Turk in Riaz ul Jannah. It has ‘Mehrab-un-Nabi (SAW)’ written upon it. It is commonly said that the Prophet (SAW) used lead the prayers by standing here but this is not correct. On the top of the right pillar in this mehrab, it says Actually this is the place where the Prophet (SAW) used to lead Salat. The pulpit is on the right hand corner of Riaz ul Jannah. This pulpit is also made by the Turk. It is located at the original place where the pulpit of the Prophet (SAW) was made. High in front of this pulpit is made the place from where the Azaan before the start of Salat is made. It is said that this is the spot where Respected Bilal (RA) used to say the Azaan on the occasion of a Khutba.
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