Mount Uhud is not just a geological landmark on the outskirts of Madinah—it’s a mountain wrapped in love, sacrifice, and prophetic reverence. For Muslims around the world, this mountain holds a deep spiritual symbolism, magnified through the words of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
The Prophet ﷺ once said as he returned from the expedition of Tabuk:
“This is Uhud, a mountain that loves us and we love it.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 4422, Sahih Muslim 1392)
Another remarkable narration describes a moment when the Prophet ﷺ stood upon Mount Uhud with three of his closest companions:
“Uhud trembled beneath them, so the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Be firm, O Uhud! For upon you is a Prophet, a Siddiq, and two martyrs.’” (Sahih al-Bukhari 3675)
Bi’r al-Yasīrah – this is the name that the Prophet ﷺ gave to the well
This well became closely tied to the Prophet ﷺ and remained a witness to his visit and his wuḍū’ from it. The Prophet ﷺ passed by this well and asked about it. It was said to him: “Its name is al-ʿUsayrah,” so he changed its name to al-Yasīrah, in line with his noble habit of changing harsh or off-putting names to names with a good and pleasant meaning.
The water of this well was also used to wash the blessed body of the noble Companion Abū Salamah al-Makhzūmī رضي الله عنه. He was the foster-brother of the Prophet ﷺ through breastfeeding, and the son of his aunt Barrah bint ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib. He was present at Badr and Uḥud, where he was wounded; the wound healed, then later reopened and he passed away. He was washed at Bi’r al-ʿAhn.
This well is currently located in a garden known as Bustan al-Mustazill.
When the Prophet ﷺ came to this well, he was offered a cluster of dates (ʿethq). He asked about this cluster, and it was said to him: “This is the cluster of Umm Jaradhān.” The Prophet ﷺ then supplicated: “O Allah, bless Umm Jaradhān.” Because of this incident, the well came to be known as Bi’r ʿEthiq.
Today, the site of Bi’r Rūmah lies inside Bir Uthman Park in Madinah.
Bi’r Rūmah is one of the famous historic wells of Madinah, closely linked to the generosity of ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān رضي الله عنه. In the early days after the Hijrah, this well did not belong to the Muslims. It was owned by a Jewish man who used it as a business, selling its water to people in Madinah. The water of Bi’r Rūmah was fresh and pleasant, so many people depended on it, but the price was a burden, especially for the poor and for the migrants from Makkah who had left most of their wealth behind.
When the Prophet ﷺ saw the need of the Muslims for free and reliable water, he encouraged his companions to help. In narrations mentioned by the scholars, the Prophet ﷺ said that whoever bought the well of Rūmah and made its water available to the Muslims would receive a reward in Paradise. In some reports he promised, “Whoever prepares the well of Rūmah will have Jannah,” and in others he described a spring in Paradise in return for this act of charity. This turned a commercial well into an opportunity for everlasting reward.
ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān رضي الله عنه responded to this call. He went to the owner of the well and tried to buy it outright, but the man refused to sell all of it because he did not want to lose his income. After negotiation, he agreed to sell half of the well to ʿUthmān on the condition that one day would belong to ʿUthmān and one day to himself. On ʿUthmān’s day, he made the water completely free for everyone. People would draw enough water on that day to cover two days’ needs, so when the other owner’s day came, almost no one needed to buy from him anymore. When he realized that his sales had fallen and the business was no longer profitable, he offered to sell the remaining half as well. ʿUthmān bought that part too and donated the entire well as a waqf for the Muslims, making its water free permanently.
Inside the Prophet’s Mosque today, if you enter through King Fahd Gate and walk between Gate 21 and Gate 22 and stop midway between the pillars, you’ll see a simple stone circle set into the marble floor. That quiet circle marks the spot of one of Madinah’s most beloved wells: Bi’r Ḥā’ (بئر حاء) — the well of Abu Talhah’s garden.
A garden in front of the Prophet’s Mosque
In the time of the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Talhah al-Anṣārī رضي الله عنه was among the wealthiest of the Anṣār in date-palm orchards. The garden he loved most was Bi’r Ḥā’, located directly facing the Prophet’s Mosque. Inside that garden was the famous well we now remember as Bi’r Ḥā’.
Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to enter this garden and drink from its fresh, pleasant water. This was not just any well; it was a place the Prophet ﷺ personally visited and from which he drank.
Hadith
One day, a Qur’anic verse was revealed that touched Abu Talhah’s heart:
“You will never attain true righteousness until you spend out of what you love.”
When Abu Talhah heard this verse, he immediately thought of Bi’r Ḥā’ — the garden and well he loved the most.
He came to the Prophet ﷺ and said (meaning):
“O Messenger of Allah, Allah says: لَنْ تَنَالُوا الْبِرَّ حَتَّى تُنْفِقُوا مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ (Āl ʿImrān 3:92)
And the dearest of my wealth to me is Bi’r Ḥā’. I give it as charity for the sake of Allah, hoping for its goodness and reward with Him. So, O Messenger of Allah, dispose of it wherever Allah shows you.”
The Prophet ﷺ replied with joy and encouragement:
“بَخٍ بَخٍ، ذٰلِكَ مَالٌ رَابِحٌ، ذٰلِكَ مَالٌ رَابِحٌ” “Wonderful, wonderful! That is profitable wealth, that is profitable wealth.”
Then he ﷺ advised: “I see that you should give it to your close relatives.”
So Abu Talhah رضي الله عنه accepted this prophetic advice and distributed Bayruḥā’ among his relatives and cousins.
This beautiful story is preserved in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, through the chain of Imām al-Bukhārī from Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه.
