Islamic Landmarks
This is the restored castle of the Tabi’i Urwah bin Zubair (Allah show mercy on him). It’s located in the al-Aqeeq valley, along the western boundary of Madinah.
Urwah bin Zubair’s family
- Urwah bin Zubair (رحمه الله) was a famous Tabi’i (the generation after the Sahabah) and Hadith scholar. He was born towards the end of the Caliphate of Umar (رضي الله عنه) and died in 94 AH. His father was al-Zubair bin al-Awwam and his mother Asma, the daughter of Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه). His aunt was A’ishah (رضي الله عنها), the mother of the believers from whom he benefited immensely. Abdullah bin Zubair (رضي الله عنه) was his elder brother.
- Urwah bin Zubair (رحمه الله) became one of the jurists of Madinah. He is also one of the main sources of the Prophet’s (ﷺ) biography.
His house in the Valley of al-Aqeeq
- Because of the immense blessing in and around the Valley of al-Aqeeq, many Sahabah and Tabi’i built houses there. Of those, the castle of Urwah bin Zubair still stands today. It is about 3km west of Masjid-e-Nabwi.
- Urwah’s elder brother, Abd Allah (ra), was the first baby born to the Emigrants in Madinah. But Urwah himself was born after the Prophet’s (saw) time, therefore deserving the title Follower not that of Companion like his brother.
References: Journey to the Sacred – Deen Intensive foundation, Wikipedia.
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