MOSQUE OF AL-FADIKH (DHU BAB)
The mosque of the spilled wine.
The Day Alcohol Was Prohibited
The definitive prohibition of alcohol in Islam was revealed in Medina. When the verse descended, the companions were drinking date wine (fadikh) in the house of Abu Talha al-Ansari (رضي الله عنه).
Anas ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه) — who was serving drinks that day — reported: "I was the server when the prohibition was revealed. The drink was fadikh (date wine). Someone shouted: 'Wine has been prohibited!' Abu Talha said to me: 'Go out and pour it out.' And the streets of Medina flowed with wine that day." (Sahih al-Bukhari no. 5582 · Sahih Muslim no. 1980)
Why the Name
Al-Fadikh means in Arabic "the date wine" — the most common alcoholic beverage in Medina before the prohibition. The mosque bears this name because it is believed to be near the place where this wine was spilled in large quantities on that historic day. According to another tradition, the Prophet ﷺ prayed in this mosque during the siege of Banu Nadir.
The Verse of Prohibition
"O you who believe! Intoxicants, gambling, stone altars [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful." (Surah Al-Ma'idah, 90)
Reflection
The immediate obedience of the companions to the divine command. No delay. No discussion. No negotiation. The verse descends, the cup is emptied.