Wadi Muhassar
Wadi Muhassar (Arabic: وادي محسر) is a valley situated between Mina and Muzdalifah. It is a sunnah to walk briskly through this area when crossing between the two sites. It is also reported to be the location where the army of Abraha was destroyed as they marched towards Makkah, as mentioned in Surah al-Fil.
The Prophet’s Hajj ﷺ
During the Farewell Hajj, on the morning of the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, the Prophet ﷺ left Muzdalifah for Mina. When he reached Wadi Muhassar, he lightly prodded his she-camel so that it would move faster. He did so because this was the location where God destroyed the army of Abraha as it marched towards Makkah to destroy the Kaaba. It was a tradition of the Prophet ﷺ not to spend more time than necessary in places where the opponents of God had suffered His wrath.
At the valley, he instructed his young cousin, al-Fadl ibn Abbas I, to collect some pebbles for him for the purpose of performing Rami of Jamrat al-Aqaba.
The Incident of Abraha
Abraha was an Abyssinian ruler who attempted to destroy the Kaaba in the year 570 CE, the year the Prophet ﷺ was born. He was the governor of Yemen under the Abyssinian kingdom, which at the time controlled parts of the Arabian Peninsula.
According to historical accounts, Abraha constructed a cathedral in the city of Sana’a to divert the pilgrimage traffic from the Kaaba to his own religious centre. However, his plan was met with resistance, and he grew resentful of the Kaaba’s significance in the region.
During this period, a significant incident occurred that further fueled Abraha’s determination to attack. There are three different versions of the event:
- A man from the Banu Kinana tribe allegedly defiled the cathedral by either defecating inside it or staining its prayer niche with blood. This act of sacrilege caused widespread outrage and led many people to turn against the cathedral.
- Some Arab youths attempted to set fire to the cathedral in protest against Abraha’s intentions or due to their resentment towards the growing influence of the cathedral.
- A group of travellers established a camp near the cathedral, and a spark from their cooking fire was carried by the wind into the cathedral, igniting a fire that caused significant damage.
These incidents, regardless of their exact nature, served to exacerbate tensions and resentment towards the cathedral, ultimately contributing to Abraha’s decision to launch his attack in an act of retaliation.
Abraha mobilized a large army, including elephants, and marched towards Makkah with the intention of demolishing the Kaaba. His forces encountered opposition from the Quraysh tribe and other Arab tribes, who were fiercely protective of the Kaaba’s sanctity.
As Abraha’s army approached Makkah, they were met with a flock of birds called Ababil carrying stones in their beaks and claws. These birds bombarded Abraha’s army, pelting them with stones and causing chaos and destruction among their ranks. This event, known as the “Year of the Elephant,” is considered a miraculous intervention by God to protect the Kaaba. It is referenced in the Quran in Surah al-Fil (Chapter 105).
Despite Abraha’s ambitious plans, his expedition ended in failure and humiliation. He himself fell ill and died on the return journey to Yemen, while his army suffered significant losses.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born approximately 50 days after the incident involving Abraha’s attempted attack on the Kaaba.
