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The Demolition of Masjid al-Dirar or the Burning of Masjid al-Dirar, also referred to as the opposition mosque occurred while Muhammad was returning from the Battle of Tabuk (which occurred in October 630 AD ). Muhammad believed that it was a Mosque promoting opposition, so he sent Muslim fighters to burn it down. It was burnt down with Muslim worshippers (praying the afternoon prayers) still inside. It is suggested by the primary sources which mention this event that 12 people were killed inside, while others ran away. The event is also mentioned in the Quran verse 9:107 and 9:110.

Burning of Mosque

Burning of Masjid al-Dirar

According to Ar-Rahīq al-Makhtum (the Sealed Nectar), a modern Islamic hagiography of Muhammad written by the Indian Muslim author Saif ur-Rahman Mubarakpuri, a Mosque called Masjid-e-Darar (the mosque of harm) was created by the Munafiq (hypocrites). When the mosque was completely built, the creators approached Muhammad and asked him to pray in it. But Muhammad put the request on hold till his return from the Battle of Tabuk. Mubarakpuri claims that through a "Divine Revelation", Muhammad was told that the Mosque was promoting anti-Islamic elements. Thus, on Muhammad's return from Tabuk, he sent a party of Muslim fighters to demolish the mosque.

William Muir mentions that Muhammad believed the Mosque was built to create disunity among Muslims by drawing people away from another Mosque i.e Masjid al-Quba, which was the first Mosque to be built by Muslims.

When Muhammad was returning from Tabuk, the Muslims halted at Dhu Awan, some Muslims constructed the mosque claiming it was for the sick and needy, but because of Muhammad's belief that it was an opposition Mosque, he sent Muslim fighters to burn it down. It was burnt down when people were still inside it. The sources which mention this event also mention the name of the 12 people who constructed it, and suggested that the 12 people were killed inside.

Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya in his book Zad al-Ma'ad,also mentions that the Mosque was burnt down, and he also used this event to justify his belief that burning down places of sin is permissible in Islam .

Mentioning in Quran verses 9:107 and 9:110

According to Muslim scholars such as Ibn Kathir, the Quran verse 9:107 was "revealed" about this event and Ibn Kathir mentions in his Tafsir that Abu `Amir Ar-Rahib (a Christian monk) told some disaffected Muslim Ansar (people who helped Muhammad during his early years of claimed prophethood) to build the mosque. Abu Amir is reported to have said to some people that he will go to the emperor (Caesar) of the Byzantine Empire and return with Roman soldiers, to expel Muhammad. Ibn Kathir mentions that verse 9:110 also refers to the incident, and in his commentary he mentions that Jabir ibn Abd-Allah saw smoke rising from the Masjid (mosque) that was built to cause harm (Masjid al-Dirar).

Islamic sources

Primary sources

The event is mentioned in the Quran verse 9:107, the verse states:

And there are those who put up a mosque by way of mischief and infidelity - to disunite the Believers - and in preparation for one who warred against Allah and His Messenger aforetime. They will indeed swear that their intention is nothing but good; But Allah doth declare that they are certainly liars.

The Muslim scholar Ibn Kathir's commentary on this verse is as follows:

(If we come back from our travel, Allah willing.) When the Messenger of Allah came back from Tabuk and was approximately one or two days away from Al-Madinah, Jibril came down to him with the news about Masjid Ad-Dirar and the disbelief and division between the believers, who were in Masjid Quba' (which was built on piety from the first day), that Masjid Ad-Dirar was meant to achieve. Therefore, the Messenger of Allah sent some people to Masjid Ad-Dirar to bring it down before he reached Al-Madinah. `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said about this Ayah (9:107), "They are some people of the Ansar to whom Abu `Amir said, `Build a Masjid and prepare whatever you can of power and weapons, for I am headed towards Caesar, emperor of Rome, to bring Roman soldiers with whom I will expel Muhammad and his companions.' When they built their Masjid, they went to the Prophet and said to him, "We finished building our Masjid and we would like you pray in it and invoke Allah for us for His blessings
.

The event is mentioned by the Muslim jurist Tabari as follows:

"The Messenger of God proceeded until he halted in Dhu Awan, a town an hour’s daytime journey from Medina. The people who had built the Mosque of Dissent (masjid al-dirar) had come to him while he was preparing for Tabuk saying, ‘O Messenger of God, we have built a mosque for the sick and needy and for rainy and cold nights, and we would like you to visit us and pray for us in it.’ said that he was on the verge of traveling, and he was preoccupied, or words to that effect, and that when he returned, God willing, he would come to them and pray for them in it. When he stopped in Dhu Awan, news of the mosque came to him, and he summoned Malik b. al-Dukhshum, a brother of the Banu Salim b. ‘Awf, and Ma’n b. ‘Adi, or his brother ‘Asim b. ‘Adi, brothers of the Banu al-‘Ajlan, and said, "Go to this mosque whose owners are unjust people and destroy and burn it". They went out briskly until they came to the Banu Salim b. ‘Awf who were Malik b. al-Dukhshum’s clan. Malik said to Ma’n, "Wait for me until I bring fire from my people."

He went to his kinsfolk and took a palm branch and lighted it. Then both of them ran until they entered the mosque, its people inside, set fire to it and destroyed it and the people dispersed. Concerning this, it was revealed in the Quran...

Secondary sources

Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya in his book Zad al-Ma'ad, wrote about the event and used it to justify burning down places of sin, he wrote:

We also derive from this story the permissibility of burning places of sin and disobedience, as the Prophet burnt Masjid Ad-Dirar (the Mosque of Harm); and it is incumbent upon the Imam to destroy it, either by demolishing it or burning it, or by altering its shape and changing its function.

And if that was the case regarding Masjid Ad- Dirar, then the shrines where Shirk is practised should with all the more reason be destroyed and likewise the houses of the wine merchants and those who do evil deeds; Umar burnt down a whole village in which wine was sold. And he burnt down the palace of Sa'd when he secluded himself in it from the people and the prophet intended to burn down the houses of those who did not attend the Friday prayer or the Congregational prayers; and the only thing which prevented him was the presence therein of persons whom it was not obligatory...

See also

• Muhammad as a general

References

1. Hawarey, Dr. Mosab (2010). The Journey of Prophecy; Days of Peace and War (Arabic). Islamic Book Trust. {{cite book}}: External link in |first= and |title= (help)Note: Book contains a list of battles of Muhammad in Arabic, English translation available here, and archive of page here
2. Tabari, Al (25 Sep 1990), The last years of the Prophet (translated by Isma'il Qurban Husayn), State University of New York Press, p. 60, ISBN 978-0887066917{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link) See footnote 425
3. Gabriel, Richard A. (2008), Muhammad, Islam first general, Blackwell, p. 19, ISBN 9780806138602
4. ^ Rahman al-Mubarakpuri, Saifur (2005), The Sealed Nectar, Darussalam Publications, p. 273
5. Rahman al Mubarakpuri, Saifur. Tafsir ibn Kathir(abridged). p. 515. see also Tafsir ibn Kathir, 9:107, Online Text version
6. Muir, William (10 August 2003). Life of Mahomet. Kessinger Publishing Co. p. 462. ISBN 978-0766177413.
7. Muir, William (10 August 2003). Life of Mahomet. Kessinger Publishing Co. p. 462. ISBN 978-0766177413.
8. Masjid Quba is the first mosque in Islam's history
9. Gabriel, Richard A. (2008), Muhammad, Islam first general, Blackwell, p. 19, ISBN 9780806138602
10. Muḥammad Ibn ʻAbd al-Wahhāb, Imam (2003). Mukhtaṣar zād al-maʻād. Darussalam publishers Ltd. p. 429. ISBN 978-9960897189.
11. Rahman al Mubarakpuri, Saifur. Tafsir ibn Kathir(abridged). p. 515. see also Tafsir ibn Kathir, 9:107, Online Text version
12. Saed Abdul Rahman, Muhammad. Tafsir Ibn Kathir Juz' 11 (Part 11): At-Tauba 93 To Hud 5. MSA Publication Ltd. p. 55. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |isb= ignored (help) see also Tafsir ibn Kathir, 9:110, Online Text version
13. Rahman al Mubarakpuri, Saifur. Tafsir ibn Kathir(abridged). p. 515. see also Tafsir ibn Kathir, 9:107, Online Text version
14. Tabari, Al (25 Sep 1990), The last years of the Prophet (translated by Isma'il Qurban Husayn), State University of New York Press, p. 60, ISBN 978-0887066917{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
15. Muḥammad Ibn ʻAbd al-Wahhāb, Imam (2003). Mukhtaṣar zād al-maʻād. Darussalam publishers Ltd. p. 429. ISBN 978-9960897189.

• 630
• 7th-century conflicts
• Battles of Muhammad
• Islamic history