Page:Baladhuri-Hitti1916.djvu/32

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16
THE ORIGINS OF THE ISLAMIC STATE

Ḳubâ’, he led them in prayer in it. That is why the people of Ḳubâ’ say that it is the one meant by Allah when he says "There is a mosque founded from its first day in piety. More worthy that thou enter therein."[1] Others report that the "mosque founded in piety" is that of the Prophet [in al-Madînah].

Abu-‘Âmir ar-Râhib. ‘Affân ibn-Muslim aṣ-Ṣaffâr from ‘Urwah[2] who gave the following explanation to the text: "There are some who have built a mosque for mischief and for infidelity, and to disunite the 'Believers,' and in expectation of him who, in time past, warred against Allah and his Messenger":—The mosque of Ḳubâ’ was built by Sa‘d ibn-Khaithamah and its site was owned by Labbah[3] where she used to tie up her donkey. The dissenters therefore said: "Should we pray on the spot where Labbah used to tie up her donkey? Never. Rather shall we select for ourselves some other place for prayer until abu-‘Âmir[4] comes and leads our service." Now, abu-Âmir had fled from the face of Allah and his Prophet to Makkah and thence to Syria where he was converted to Christianity. Hence the text revealed by Allah: "There are some who have built a mosque for mischief and for infidelity and to disunite the 'Believers,' and in expectation of him who, in time past, warred against Allah and his Messenger"—referring to abu-‘Âmir.

Rauḥ ibn-‘Abd-al-Mu’min al-Maḳri from Sa‘îd ibn-Jubair:—Banu-‘Amr ibn-‘Auf erected a mosque in which the

  1. Koran, 9:109.
  2. The series of authorities introducing a tradition have been cut short throughout the translation, only the first and last authorities being mentioned.
  3. "Lajja" in F. Wüstenfeld, Geshichte der Stadt Medina, p. 131.
  4. Ibn-Hishâm, pp. 561–562; and Geschichte der Stadt Medina, p. 53.