Visiting Masjid Fash, Where the Prophet Prayed Dhuhr After Nearly Being Killed in the Battle of Uhud

In the city of Madinah, Saudi Arabia, Mount Uhud is a well-known tourist destination. However, few may be aware of a small mosque called Masjid Fash, or Masjid Uhud, located at the foot of the mountain. This is the mosque where Prophet Muhammad performed the Dhuhr prayer following the Battle of Uhud. “The Prophet and his companions prayed here at the end of the Battle of Uhud,” said Ainul Yaqin, a resident of Madinah encountered at the site of Masjid Fash, also known as Al Fash. The mosque is rectangular, measuring approximately six metres in length and four metres in width, with a height of only two metres. The structure was destroyed over the centuries, leaving only a few parts remaining. In recent decades, Masjid Fash has undergone several repairs, particularly during the era of the Saudi Kingdom. Most recently, the mosque was reconstructed under the reign of King Salman bin Abdulaziz. Beside the mosque, there is a cavity where the Prophet took shelter during the Battle of Uhud. In that cave, the Prophet lay down his body, causing Mount Uhud to soften its rocks and mould to his form. “Because the Prophet was already severely wounded, the companions concealed him in Mount Uhud,” Ainul explained. Higher up, there is another cave where the Prophet evaded attacks from the Quraish infidels. However, this cave has now been sealed with cement because many people previously engaged in deviations at the site. “Perhaps because there were too many deviations, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia cemented the hole shut,” Ainul concluded. Based on Republika’s observation, many visitors take the opportunity at Masjid Fash to perform a two-rakat sunnah prayer. Unfortunately, there are no ablution facilities available, so visitors wishing to pray at the site should ideally arrive in a state of ritual purity.