Hares - Guard Column

In the early years of Hijra, when threats to the life of the Prophet Muhammad continued, the companions voluntarily kept watch to protect him. Hz. Ali was the most prominent among these protectors; he would sit at a specific point in the mosque to keep an eye on the Prophet. This column marks the spot in the Prophet's Mosque where Hz. Ali kept watch. It is also referred to as "Ustuvanetu Emîri'l-Mü'minîn Ali b. Ebû Tâlib" and "Guard Column" (Ustuvanetu'l-Hares). The decisive event that indicated the end of this protection is as follows: When the 67th verse of Surah Al-Ma'idah was revealed — "Allah will protect you from people" — Hz. Muhammad informed those on watch that there was no longer a need for this. Following this, Hz. Ali also abandoned this duty; the column has since been named in memory of that historical moment. The column is located south of the Vufud Column, near the Hücre-i Saadet. [Source: "Mescid-i Nebevî", TDV Islamic Encyclopedia, https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/mescid-i-nebevi; Diyanet News, Columns in the Sacred Garden]