This mountain marks the boundary of Madinah in the southern direction. It is the second largest mountain in Madinah after Uhud. It can be seen on the road exxiting Madinah toward Makkah. further information of this mountain is mentioned bellow :
Distance from The Prophet's SAW Mosque : 8.5 Km
Lenght : 5.4 - 6 Km
Width : 2 - 3.5 Km
Height above ground level : 300 M
Height above sea level : 1 Km
Distance from Uhud : 15 Km

This area was previously known as Harrah Wabrah. As mentioned in the hadisth, it is the boundary of Madinah in the western direction. In its north eastern quarter was the locality of Banu Salemah and Masjid Qiblatain. The fort of Urwah bin Zubair, his well and his agricultural plots of land lay in the western quarter. In the Southern direction is the fort of Quba and a number of date farms.

This area was previously known as Harrah Waqim. In Arabic the word Harrah denotes basalt, a lava field consisting of a sharp stony surface usually black in colour. The western Harrah is the boundary of Madinah in the western direction. Five tribes inhabited this district : The Jewish tribe of Banu Nadheer resided to the east of Quba at Zahra. To their north was another Jewish tribe, Banu Quraidhah and to their east was Banu zafar. Northeast of Banu Zafar was Banu Abdal Ash'hal. further north to Banu Abdal Ash'hal was banu Harithah.

Abu Huraira Ra. reported Allah's Apostle SAW. as saying : " Madinah is a sacred territory, so he who made any innovation in it or gave protection to on an innovator, upon him is the curse (la'nah) of Allah, that of the angels and that of all the people. On the Day of Resurrection, nether obligatory acts nor supererogatory acts shall be accepted from him ". (sahih mUslim Madithh No. 1370).

A  distance of approximately 15 kilometers lies between mount Ayr and mount Thaur. These two mountains mark the boundary of Madinah in the northen and southern direction. With regard to the eastern and western boundaries the Prophet SAW said : " I have declared sacred what is between the two lava grounds of Madinah.......". (sahih muslim Madith No. 1363).

Allamah ibn Hajar states : '......the intended meaning of " curse (la'nah) of the angels and all the people " is assured repulsion from the mercy of Allah. And the meaning of curse (la'nah) here is the punishment, which he deserves for the sin and it is not like the curse cast upon the non-Muslim. The Hadith also specifies that the sinner and the one who protect him are equal in sin. " ( Fath ul  Bari vol. 4 p.84)

It should be noted that a committee of the Saudi Foreign Minisstry have designated this area and marked it whit 161 towers at different locations. Thus, the boundaries of the Haram area can be clearly distinguished from land and air.


The Autor : Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani