Al Madinah
Destinations / Al-Ihn Well

Al-Ihn Well

In the heart of Al-‘Āliyah, where earth and sky solemnly meet, Al-‘Ihn Well whispers tales of time. Formerly Al-‘Asīrah, it was renamed Al-Yasīrah by the Prophet ﷺ as a gesture of blessing and optimism, then later became Al-‘Ihn after the garden encompassing it. The body of Abū Salamah Ibn ‘Abd Al Asad was washed at its rim, marking the farewell of the first muhājirīn. Hewn into rock, its abundant, sweet waters still whisper: “Here the Prophet ﷺ passed...”

• Allāh the Almighty says: {And we created from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?} [Qur’ān 21:30]

• Ibn Shabbah narrated in his Tārīkh (book of history) from Muḥammad Ibn H̱ārithah Al Ans̱ārī, from his father who says that the Prophet ﷺ named the well of Banū Umayyah tribe of the Ans̱ār as Al-Yasīrah (the easy one), he blessed it, performed ablution from it and spat into it."

Historical overview:

Madīnah is renowned for numerous wells known during the Prophetic era and preserved throughout history due to their connection with the Prophet ﷺ, many of which remain to this day.

Among these is Al-‘Ihn Well, named after the garden it occupies; Al-‘Ihn means colored wool. It lies in the area of the Banū Umayyah Ibn Zayd Al-Awsī tribe of the Ans̱ār. In the pre-Islamic era, it was called Al-‘Abīrah or Al-‘Asīrah (the difficult one). The Prophet ﷺ visited the Banū Umayyah, performed ablution from their well, blessed it, spat into it, and renamed it Al-Yasīrah (the easy one).

Historical sources record that upon his death, the noble companion Abū Salamah Ibn ‘Abd Al-Asad Al-Makhzūmī had his body placed between its edges and washed with its blessed water. The well underwent many developments; eighth- and ninth-century historians described it as a well-known, lush garden site, abundant in water with a beautiful lote tree. Its condition and surroundings developed until the eleventh Hijrī century, after which it became disused and largely barren. The culture authority has enclosed it to preserve, restore, and rehabilitate it as part of its historical and heritage landmarks project.