Masjid al-Khayf

Masjid al-Khayf (Arabic: مسجد الخيف) is located at the foot of a mountain in the south of Mina, close to the smallest Jamarat. It was at this spot that the Prophet (ﷺ) and numerous other Prophets before him performed salah. It is also known as the ‘Mosque of the Prophets’.

Mention in Ahadith

• Masjid al-Khayf is a masjid whose virtues are proven in some Hadith. According to a traceable Hadith of Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Seventy Prophets prayed in Masjid al-Khayf.” [Majma‘uz-Zawahid]
• Yazeed bin Aswad (رضي الله عنه) says that when he performed Hajj with the Prophet (ﷺ), it was at the Masjid Khayf that he performed the Fajr salah with the Prophet (ﷺ).

• Abdur-Rahman bin Mu’adh (رضي الله عنه) reports that when the Prophet (ﷺ) delivered a sermon in Mina, he instructed the Muhajireen to set up camp in front of the Masjid al-Khayf and the Ansar to set up camp behind it. The rest of the Muslims were to camp behind them. [Abu Dawood]

• Abdullah bin Abbas (رضي الله عنه) narrates that it was in Masjid al-Khayf that the Prophet (ﷺ) addressed them. After praising Allah he said: “Allah will set right the affairs of the person whose prime concern is the Aakhirah (Hereafter), Allah will also grant him self-sufficiency and the world will humble itself before him. As for the person whose prime concern is this world, Allah will scatter his affairs, place poverty in front of him and all he will get of this world will be what has been predestined for him.“ [Tabraani]

Meaning of ‘al-Khayf’

• In Arabic, the word ‘Al-Khayf’ means what has risen above the stream of water and inclined the width of the mountain.

Points of reflection

• This is a place where the pilgrim makes a firm resolution that from this day forward all they will do will be for the sake of Allah and to acquire benefit in the Akhirah. This was the emphasis of the Prophet (ﷺ) at this very place. Our mind and hearts should ponder and reflect: Is our concern the Akhirah or the Dunya?

References:  The History of Makkah Mukarramah – Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani, Holy Makkah – Shaikh Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri, Hayatus Sahabah – M. Yusuf Khandalvi, ArabNews.com