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The Demolition of Masjid al-Dirar, also referred to as the opposition mosque occurred while Muhammad was preparing for 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 people were still inside it. .

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 Mosque was promoting anti-Islamic elements. Thus, on Muhammads return from Tabuk, he sent a part of Muslim fighters to demolish the mosque.

William Muir mentions that the Mosque was created to draw of people from another Mosque i.e Masjid al-Quba, which was the first Mosque ever built by Muhammad.

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.

Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya in his book Za'ad al Maa'd,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

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.

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:

See also

• Muhammad as a general

References

1. Gabriel, Richard A. (2008), Muhammad, Islam first general, Blackwell, p. 19, ISBN 9780806138602
2. ^ Rahman al-Mubarakpuri, Saifur (2005), The Sealed Nectar, Darussalam Publications, p. 273
3. Muir, William (10 August 2003). Life of Mahomet. Kessinger Publishing Co. p. 462. ISBN 978-0766177413.
4. Muir, William (10 August 2003). Life of Mahomet. Kessinger Publishing Co. p. 462. ISBN 978-0766177413.
5. Masjid Quba is the first mosque in Islam's history
6. Gabriel, Richard A. (2008), Muhammad, Islam first general, Blackwell, p. 19, ISBN 9780806138602
7. Muḥammad Ibn ʻAbd al-Wahhāb, Imam (2003). Mukhtaṣar zād al-maʻād. Darussalam publishers Ltd. p. 429. ISBN 978-9960897189.
8. Rahman al Mubarakpuri, Saifur. Tafsir ibn Kathir(abridged). p. 515. see also Tafsir ibn Kathir, 9:107, Online Text version
9. Rahman al Mubarakpuri, Saifur. Tafsir ibn Kathir(abridged). p. 515. see also Tafsir ibn Kathir, 9:107, Online Text version

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