Hz. Osman Well (Rume)

The Rûme Well is one of the oldest wells in the city, located in the area where the floodwaters of the Akîk valley gather in the southwest of Medina. The exact identity of the first person who dug the well is unknown; it was closed for a period and reopened by one of the Muzaynil during the emergence of Islam. It is reported that later it remained in the possession of someone named "Rûmetü'l-Gıfârî" and then passed into the hands of a Jew. When the Prophet Muhammad migrated to Medina, there was a severe shortage of drinking water due to the increasing population. The owner of the well —according to some sources a Jew, according to others a member of the Gıfâr tribe— was selling the water for a fee. The Prophet Muhammad asked him to distribute the water for free; however, the person rejected this offer, stating that the well was his only source of income. Upon this, the Prophet Muhammad gave the good news: "Whoever buys the Rûme Well and dedicates it to Muslims will be given something better than this well in paradise." Upon receiving this good news, Hz. Osman took action. Since the owner did not agree to sell the entire well, Hz. Osman purchased half of the well for 12,000 or 20,000 dirhams. The two parties shared the use of the water on alternate days: one day for Hz. Osman, one day for the owner. On his days, Hz. Osman opened the well completely free of charge to Muslims. As a result of this practice, Muslims left with plenty of water on Hz. Osman’s days, while almost no one remained on the other days. Seeing his dwindling income, the Jewish owner eventually sold the other half of the well to Hz. Osman for 8,000 to 20,000 dirhams. Thus, Hz. Osman purchased the entire well and dedicated it for the service of Muslims. The Rûme Well is considered the first endowment established by a Muslim in Islamic history. Through this endowment, Hz. Osman was promised paradise by the Prophet Muhammad due to his contributions to both paradise and the Tabuk Expedition. The water of the well has maintained its quality as the best drinking water in Medina for many centuries. In 750 AH (1349 AD), the judge of Mecca, Şehâbeddin Ahmed b. Muhammed et-Taberî, restored the well and widened its base. In 1040 AH (1630-31 AD), the well was repaired again, its surroundings were afforested, and a small mosque was built next to it. The well underwent many repairs during the Ottoman period and remained within the boundaries of the endowment area belonging to the Prophet's Mosque after passing into Saudi administration. [Source: Mustafa Sabri Küçükaşcı, "Rûme Kuyusu", TDV Islamic Encyclopedia, https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/rume-kuyusu; "Osman", TDV Islamic Encyclopedia, https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/osman]