HOUSE OF ITBAN IBN MALIK
The house of the blind man who asked for a miracle.
The Man with Diminished Sight
There was in Medina a companion of the Ansar named Itban ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه). He was from the Khazraj tribe, of the Banu Salim family. And he had become blind.
Itban led the prayer for his clan in a small local mosque. But when the rains came, the wadi that separated his house from the mosque would fill with water, and the blind man could no longer reach it.
Itban suffered from this. He loved the congregational prayer. He loved the contact with his brothers. He decided to go see the Prophet ﷺ.
The Companion's Request
He said to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: "O Messenger of Allah! My eyes have lost their sight, and I lead the prayer of my people. When the rains come, the wadi between them and me fills up. I would like you to come, O Messenger of Allah, and pray in my house at a place that I can take as a prayer area." (Sahih al-Bukhari no. 425 · Sahih Muslim no. 33)
The Prophet's ﷺ Visit
The Prophet ﷺ accepted. The next day, he came to the house of Itban, accompanied by Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه). At the door, he asked for permission to enter. Itban allowed him. The Prophet ﷺ entered and asked: "Where do you want me to pray in your house?" Itban indicated a spot. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed two rakats. (Sahih al-Bukhari no. 425)
The Sermon the Prophet ﷺ Gave Afterwards
After the prayer, companions from the neighborhood came to greet the Prophet ﷺ. The discussion turned to a certain Malik ibn ad-Dukhshum, a presumed hypocrite. Someone said: "He is a hypocrite."
The Prophet ﷺ responded with a word of immense power: "Do not say that. Do you not see him saying 'Lā ilāha illā'Llāh', seeking thereby the face of Allah? Allah has forbidden the Fire for anyone who says 'Lā ilāha illā'Llāh', seeking thereby the face of Allah." (Sahih al-Bukhari no. 425 · Sahih Muslim no. 33)
This is one of the most important hadiths in Islam regarding the doctrine of salvation through the sincerity of the Shahada.
What This House Teaches
1. The compassion of the Prophet ﷺ for the disabled
2. The sanctification of a place through prophetic prayer
3. The significance of congregational prayer in Islam
4. Sincerity in the Shahada