Jarwal Neighborhood
Jarwal Neighborhood is one of the neighborhoods of Makkah al-Mukarramah City, west the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It contains Tuwa Well, near which Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (PBUH), stayed, drank its water, and bathed before heading to Makkah al-Mukarramah for the Farewell Pilgrimage. The Jarwal area also includes housing for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, due to its proximity to the central area of the Grand Mosque.
Jarwal Neighborhood location
Jarwal Neighborhood is located northwest of the Grand Mosque, starting from the end of Riya' ar-Rassam to the east and north. Historically, Jarwal Area was the last built-up boundary of Makkah al-Mukarramah after al-Shubaikah. It was named Jarwal because of the numerous water streams (Jarawil) that used to flow in the gardens there.
Jarwal Neighborhood landmarks
Tuwa Valley and Tuwa Well stand as historical landmarks in Makkah al-Mukarramah. Their significance is highlighted by the fact that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) drank and performed ablution using the water of Tuwa Well during the Farewell Pilgrimage. According to historical records, Tuwa Valley lies where it is now known as Jarwal Neighborhood; it is one of Makkah’s three inhabited valleys, Fatimah Valley, “Bakkah,” Makkah al-Mukarramah Valley, “Fakh,” and Tuwa Valley. Tuwa Well is found within Tuwa Valley, and it is said that Abd Shams Bin Abd Manaf first dug it, and then Aqil Bin Abi Talib later developed it.
Abdullah Bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, would not enter Makkah al-Mukarramah without spending the night in Dhi Tuwa, then bathing in the morning and entering Makkah al-Mukarramah during the daytime. According to a narration in Sahih Muslim, there was a mosque built near the place where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) prayed. Al-Fakihi referred to it as the Prophet’s Mosque, located close to the well on the right side of those approaching it. The mosque, once known as Qubba Mosque, remained until it was removed for road expansion. It was built on the spot where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) bathed or performed ablutions, and the well still exists in Jarwal under the name Tuwa Well.
Tuwa Valley, which contains the well bearing its name, lies along the route between Thaniat (Kada), known today as al-Hajun, and Thaniat al-Khadra, known today as (Riya' al-Kuhl). Its upper end is at Riyaʿ al-Lusous (now Algeria Street), and Fakh Valley runs into its basin before continuing toward al-Misfalah near Qoz an-Nakasa. Today, it is in the middle of urban Makkah al-Mukarramah, and its districts include al-Ataybiyah, Jarwal, and at-Tandabawi.
Tuwa Well in Jarwal was the site where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) divided his army on their way to conquer Umm al-Qura. He instructed az-Zubair Bin al-Awwam to enter Makkah al-Mukarramah from Thaniat Kada, and Khalid Bin al-Walid to enter from a place called al-Layt in the lower part of Makkah al-Mukarramah, while he himself moved to enter the city from Riyaʿ Dhakhir.
Sources
Historic Tuwa Well in Makkah al-Mukarramah. Abdullah Bin Hussein ash-Sharif. Heritage Commission. 2021.Saudi Press Agency (SPA).