The hypocrites established a den of deceit and conspiracy in the form of a mosque, Al-Dirar mosque, which was established on disbelief. The mosque was built to cause rifts among the Believers and be an observation post for those who were fighting Allah and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). The ones involved in its construction came to the Messenger of Allah when he was preparing to leave for the expedition of Tabuk and asked him to pray in the mosque, saying, “Oh Messenger of Allah, we have built a mosque for the sick and needy and for rainy and cold nights, and we would like you to come and lead us in prayer there.” But the the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) delayed praying in the mosque as he was busy in the battle against Rome and Ghasan. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, <I am just about to travel and am busy…when we return, Allah willing, I will come to you and lead you in prayer in it> [The Prophet’s Biography by Ibn Hesham].
They intended to deceive the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and the Believers, but the hypocrites failed to fulfill their wishes and failed in carrying out their plan, especially after Allah exposed them by revealing the following verse about them in the Quran, {As for those who have set up a mosque, causing harm and out of kufr, to create division between the Believers} [Surah At-Tawbah: 107] [ibid.]. Therefore, when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) returned to Medinah after staying twenty nights in Tabuk, he ordered the demolition of Dirar mosque which had been built by the hypocrites.
