PALACE OF 'URWA IBN AZ-ZUBAYR
The palace of the son of the great companion.
A palace in the blessed valley
In the heart of Wadi al-Aqiq — the blessed valley where Jibreel descended to tell the Prophet ﷺ: "You are indeed in a blessed valley" (Bukhari n°1513) — lie the remnants of a palace.
This palace belonged to 'Urwah ibn az-Zubayr (رضي الله عنه), one of the greatest scholars of the first generation that followed the companions (the Tabi'in).
Who was 'Urwah ibn az-Zubayr?
His genealogy alone is astonishing:
- Father: Az-Zubayr ibn al-'Awwam — one of the ten promised Paradise
- Mother: Asma' bint Abi Bakr — "Dhat an-Nitaqayn", daughter of the caliph
- Brother: Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr — the first Muslim child born in Medina
- Maternal Aunt: 'Aisha bint Abi Bakr — Mother of the Believers
- Maternal Grandfather/Uncle: Abu Bakr As-Siddiq — the first caliph
The Major Scholar
'Urwah became one of the greatest scholars of Medina. He is one of the seven figures known as "the seven jurists of Medina" — founders of the Medinese school of fiqh, which later led to the school of Imam Malik.
He is the primary narrator of the hadiths of Aisha, and one of the most important chroniclers of the Sîrah of the Prophet ﷺ.
The Trial of 'Urwah
'Urwah underwent a terrible trial. One of his legs was afflicted with gangrene, and the doctors had to amputate it. According to tradition, he was offered opium to alleviate the pain. He refused.
He performed the Maghrib prayer. During that same prayer, one of his sons died accidentally. When he was informed of the double tragedy, he said:
"O Allah, You have given me four limbs and four sons. You have taken one from me and left me three. You have given me ten children and taken one from me. Praise be to You for what You have taken and for what You have left."
This statement has become a model of Muslim patience in the face of trials.
Why this palace is important
1. Material witness to the scientific life in Medina in the 1<sup>st</sup> century of the Hijrah
2. It is located in Wadi al-Aqiq — the valley blessed by hadith
3. It belonged to one of the founding jurists of the Medinese school
4. The only archaeological remnant of a private Umayyad palace near Medina