“Between my house and my pulpit (minbar) is a garden from the gardens of Paradise, and my pulpit is over my pond (ḥawḍ).”

Narrated by al-Bukhari (no. 1196) and Muslim (no. 1391), from the ḥadīth of Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him).

Brief Explanation of the Hadith

This ḥadīth explains the great status that Allah has granted to His Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and the distinction given to a specific area of his noble mosque. It mentions that the space between his house and his minbar is a garden from the gardens of Paradise.
The phrase “what is between my house” refers to the house of ʿĀ'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), as evidenced by another narration: “what is between my grave and my minbar.” It is well known that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was buried in the house of ʿĀ'ishah.
The phrase “a garden from the gardens of Paradise” has been interpreted by scholars with various meanings:
The first interpretation is that it refers to a place where the mercy of Allah descends and happiness is attained, due to the constant engagement in the circles of remembrance (dhikr) and the teaching of knowledge, particularly during the time of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
The second interpretation is that the worship performed in this area leads to Paradise, so it is metaphorically described as a “garden from the gardens of Paradise.”
The third interpretation takes the ḥadīth literally, meaning that this specific location will be transferred to Paradise on the Day of Judgment, similar to the Black Stone, which is confirmed to be from Paradise, as well as the rivers of Sayhān and Jayhān, which are considered among the rivers of Paradise despite being in this world.
And His saying, “and my minbar is upon my pond,” can be understood in two ways:
The first possibility is that the minbar is actually positioned by his pond (ḥawḍ), as indicated by his statement, “I can see my pond.”
The second possibility is that it will be placed by the pond on the Day of Judgment, where the minbar will be positioned beside the ḥawḍ.
The connection between the minbar and the ḥawḍ serves as a significant indication of their strong correlation: the minbar in this world is the source of guidance and knowledge, leading the hearts towards truth, while the ḥawḍ in the Hereafter is the source of nourishment for the thirsty. This presents a clear similarity between the two.
This ḥadīth emphasizes the importance of honoring this blessed spot and increasing acts of worship within it, while avoiding extremism or attaching undue reverence to the place itself. The true value lies in the prescribed acts of worship and following the example of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) both outwardly and inwardly.