Visit ArabiaFORTRESS KHASHM ADH-DHIB
The Ottoman fortress of Mount Uhud.
The Ottoman Sentinel of Uhud
On the heights of the Uhud complex stands, for over 165 years, the Fortress Khashm Adh-Dhib — "the Snout of the Wolf".
It does not date back to the Prophet ﷺ, nor to the caliphs. It dates from the late Ottoman period, and tells an unknown yet important chapter of the long saga of Medina.
A Fortress of 1857-1858
The Fortress Khashm Adh-Dhib was built in 1274 AH (1857-1858 CE) by Khalid Pacha, then the Ottoman governor of Medina, to:
1. Protect the Hajj routes from Damascus and Cairo
2. Monitor the Bedouin tribes
3. Defend Medina
Why the Name "The Snout of the Wolf"
The name Khashm Adh-Dhib literally means "the Snout (or Muzzle) of the Wolf". This name is related to the shape of the rocky prominence:
- Pointed like a snout
- Overhanging like a predator's nose
- Visible from afar from the plain
The Long Ottoman Presence in Medina
From 1517 to 1919, about 400 years of Ottoman rule. The Ottomans protected Medina and its pilgrims.
Note of Sincerity
This site has no connection to the Prophet ﷺ nor to his companions. It is a post-prophetic monument dating from the Ottoman period (19th century). For pilgrims focused on the sites of the Sîrah, this site is optional.