English Translation

Ishaq ibn 'Isa narrated to us: 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn Abi Hazim narrated to us, from his father, from Sahl ibn Sa'd, that he was asked about the pulpit (minbar) -- from what wood it was made. He said: "Indeed, by Allah, I know from what wood it was made, and I know who made it, and on what day it was made, and on what day it was set in place. I saw the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, on the first day he sat upon it. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, sent word to a woman who had a carpenter slave-boy, and said to her: 'Order your carpenter boy to make me some pieces of wood on which I may sit when I speak to the people.' So she ordered him, and he went to the forest and cut tamarisk wood, and made the pulpit with three steps. She then sent it to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and it was placed in its position, this one that you see. He sat on it the first day it was set in place, and he said the takbir upon it, then bowed in ruku', then descended backward and prostrated, and the people prostrated with him. Then he returned until he finished. When he had finished, he said: 'O people, I only did this so that you might follow me and learn my prayer.'" Then Sahl was asked: "Was there anything to the matter of the trunk that the people speak of?" He said: "What was, was."