Medinah Sharif, Saudi Arabia
Coordinates: 24.438011, 39.629632
Bir al-Ahn is located in the district of the Bani Umayyah bin Zayd tribe from the Ansar in the area of al-Awali, near Masjid Quba.
Significance of the Well
The well used to be called al-Usrah meaning difficulty, but the Prophet ﷺ changed it’s name to al-Yusrah.
Ibn Zubalah narrated from Said bin Amr that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ once visited the tribe of Bani Umayyah bin Zayd and standing at one of their wells asked, ‘What is it called?’. They replied, ‘Usrah (Difficulty)’. He replied, ‘No, rather its name is Yusrah (ease)’. Then he spat into it, made ablution from it and made supplication for its blessing.
It was with the water of this well that the companion Hz. Abu salamah bin ‘Abdul Asad Al- Makhzoomey رضي الله عنه was washed after his death from the wounds he sustained during the battle of Uhud.
He was also the brother of the Prophet ﷺ through breastfeeding and his cousin, Berra bint Abdul Muttalib رضي الله عنه.
He was also the husband of Bibi Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها before the Messenger of God ﷺ married her.
Location
The Well of al-Ahn is located south east of the Prophet’s Mosque and it lies at a distance of about 3750 meters from the Prophet’s ﷺ pulpit.
Site
Unfortunately, the well was completely destroyed due to negligence, and next to the well are houses (probably) for the days of the Ottoman state.
An old water pump can be seen close by.
