Summary

Ibn al-Imad, in Shadharat al-Dhahab, reports that lightning struck the Prophet's Mosque in Medina in 898 AH, shortly before midday on Wednesday, the eighteenth of Safar. ¹

The damage

The lightning hit the main minaret; the crescent at its top was split, and part of its lower structure fell. ¹

In the same year

The author adds that in that year the strange plague struck Persia, and that about half of it also burned. ¹

The date of the Gregorian day is derived from the Hijri date.

Mosque of the Two Qiblas

The Banu Salama mosque of Medina, named 'of the two qiblas' because the qibla was turned in it: Ibn Zabala reports that a man of Banu Salama reached them at dawn prayer with word of the change and they turned mid-prayer to the Kaaba — while al-Zamakhshari and the sira tradition make the change fall at zuhr when the Prophet had prayed two rak'as with his Companions, then turned to face the Mizab, the men and women exchanging places; Ibn Hajar reconciles the reports, and al-Majd notes that on Ibn Zabala's version Quba mosque would better deserve the name. Ibn Zabala ascribes the mosque to Banu Sawad ibn Ghanm of Banu Salama by al-Midhad, against al-Matari's ascription to Banu Haram.

The Second Lightning Strike on the Prophet's Mosque, 898

At a glance

In time

In space

Summary

The damage

In the same year

Connections

People and things also explored

Sources

Time

Mosque of the Two Qiblas