The Seven المسجدs of المدينة (Al-Masajid al-Sab'ah)

In 5 AH (627 CE), a coalition of Quraysh, Ghatafan, and other tribes — numbering approximately 10,000 — besieged المدينة. On the advice of the companion Salman al-Farsi, النبي ordered a trench (khandaq) dug along the northern approaches to the city, where it was most vulnerable. The siege lasted approximately a month, during which the Muslims endured extreme cold, hunger, and the fear of betrayal from within. النبي and his companions maintained الصلاة stations along the trench line, keeping watch and making دعاء for divine assistance. These الصلاة stations became the sites of the seven small مسجدs that stand in the area today.

The most prominent of the seven is Masjid al-Fath (المسجد of Victory), situated on the highest point of the hill, marking where النبي made intensive دعاء for three days seeking divine aid against the siege. Below it are: Masjid Salman al-Farsi (named after the companion who suggested the trench strategy), Masjid Umar ibn al-Khattab, Masjid Ali ibn Abi Talib, Masjid Abu Bakr, and Masjid Fatimah. The seventh مسجد, sometimes counted in the group, has varying identifications in different sources. The مسجدs are small structures — some barely larger than a room — but their historical resonance with the early Muslim community's struggle for survival makes them significant الحج sites.

The Seven المسجدs are located on the western slope of Mount Sal'a, approximately 2 kilometers north of Masjid al-Nabawi. They are typically visited together as part of a المدينة ziyarah tour. The area has been developed with walkways, lighting, and explanatory signage. While the مسجدs are small and some are primarily historical markers rather than active الصلاة spaces, the area provides a tangible connection to the Battle of the Trench — one of the defining moments of early Islam when the very survival of the Muslim community was at stake. Standing where النبي made دعاء for victory, and where victory ultimately came through divine intervention in the form of a devastating wind that scattered the enemy encampment, is a powerful experience.