2/16. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 452 — Mosque Construction
On (The Reward) Of Building Masajid
Prophet Mosque Construction Hadith: Repair When Needed
Sunan Abi Dawud : 452
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 452
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُوسَى، عَنْ شَيْبَانَ، عَنْ فِرَاسٍ، عَنْ عَطِيَّةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ مَسْجِدَ النَّبِيِّ، صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَتْ سَوَارِيهِ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ جُذُوعِ النَّخْلِ أَعْلاَهُ مُظَلَّلٌ بِجَرِيدِ النَّخْلِ ثُمَّ إِنَّهَا نَخِرَتْ فِي خِلاَفَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَبَنَاهَا بِجُذُوعِ النَّخْلِ وَبِجَرِيدِ النَّخْلِ ثُمَّ إِنَّهَا نَخِرَتْ فِي خِلاَفَةِ عُثْمَانَ فَبَنَاهَا بِالآجُرِّ فَلَمْ تَزَلْ ثَابِتَةً حَتَّى الآنَ .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
The pillars of the mosque of the Prophet (ﷺ) during the life time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) were made of the trunks of the palm-tree; they covered from the above by twigs of the palm-tree; they decayed during the caliphate of Abu Bakr. He built it afresh with trunks and twigs of the palm-tree. But they again decayed during the caliphate of 'Uthman. He, therefore, built it with bricks. That survives until today.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 452In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 62English translation : Book 2, Hadith 452
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 452
This narration gives another report about the construction of the Prophet's Mosque. Ibn Umar says its pillars during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم were made from palm-tree trunks, and the top was covered with palm twigs. During the caliphate of Abu Bakr, those materials decayed, so he rebuilt it with palm trunks and palm twigs. Later, during the caliphate of Uthman, they decayed again, so he built it with bricks, and that remained until the time of the report. The core topic is mosque construction and repair. The hadith shows simple materials, natural wear, and rebuilding when needed. It stays focused on the practical upkeep of the mosque.
What we learn from this hadith
- The first structure used palm trunks and palm twigs.
- When the materials decayed, they were rebuilt.
- The later use of bricks is mentioned as a lasting repair.
