Sajdah (Beni Haram / Sel' Cave)

Sel' Mountain is a volcanic mountain rising just south of the area of the Battle of the Trench, north of Medina. During the Battle of the Trench (H. 5/M. 627), the Prophet Muhammad set up his headquarters at the foot of this mountain; the Mosque of Conquest is also located on the northwestern slopes of Sel' Mountain. On or at the foot of Sel' Mountain, there is a cave known as "Beni Haram Cave" or "Sel' Cave." According to sources, the Prophet Muhammad prayed in this cave and performed long prostrations. Narrations indicate that this cave was a refuge that the Prophet used for worship during the Battle of the Trench. According to Ibn Shebbeh, this cave was near the Beni Haram neighborhood. During the 27-day siege of the Battle of the Trench, the Prophet Muhammad performed night prayers and long supplications here. Overcoming the psychological pressure on Muslims with these acts of worship, the Prophet would spend part of the night in long standing and prostrations. [Source: F. Z. Kamacı, "Historical Sites in the Uhud and Trench Regions", Dergipark, 2021; "Battle of the Trench", TDV Islamic Encyclopedia, https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/hendek-gazvesi]