The Place Where the Rock Broke in Hendek

During the preparations for the Battle of Hendek (H. 5/M. 627), a great difficulty was encountered while digging the trench: a very hard rock was found in the area for which Salman al-Farsi was responsible. No matter how hard they tried, the rock could not be broken. Hz. Prophet was informed and came personally. He took a pickaxe or a shovel and struck the rock. Sparks flew with the first strike, and one-third of the rock broke. Hz. Prophet said, "Allahu Akbar! The keys of Sham have been given to me; I swear I see its red palaces right now." With the second strike, sparks flew again, and two-thirds of the rock broke; he said, "Allahu Akbar! The keys of Faris have been given to me; I see the white palaces of Medain right now." With the third strike, the remaining piece also broke; he said, "Allahu Akbar! The keys of Yemen have been given to me; I see the gates of Sana'a right now." These tidings became a great source of morale as a divine message that came at the most difficult and hopeless moments of the Muslims. [Source: "Battle of Hendek", TDV Islamic Encyclopedia, https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/hendek-gazvesi; Ibn Hisham, as-Sira, III, 220]