The Well of Nabi Yaʿqūb عليه السلام is a deep stone well located in the city of Nablus, in the heart of historic Palestine. Revered across Muslim, Christian,…
The Well of Nabi Yaʿqūb عليه السلام is a deep stone well located in the city of Nablus, in the heart of historic Palestine. Revered across Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and Samaritan traditions, it is believed to have been dug by Nabi Yaʿqūb عليه السلام and is also associated with Nabi ʿĪsā عليه السلام, who is said to have passed by and rested at this very site. Today, the well is located within the grounds of an Eastern Orthodox monastery—the Church of St Photina—but is cared for with the cooperation of local Muslims, who continue to honour its sacred history. Visitors enter through the church and descend down a stone stairway into a crypt-like chamber where the well lies. The well once reached a depth of over 40 metres, though due to natural sedimentation and time, it is now recorded at just over 20 metres. Despite this, it still yields water, and water is still drawn from it. The present-day church, completed in 2007, was built over the site of earlier Byzantine and Crusader-era structures. The area is peaceful and shaded with trees and plants, offering a calm atmosphere for reflection. For Muslims, this well is a reminder of Nabi Yaʿqūb عليه السلام’s presence in the land of Palestine, and his role as a patriarch of Bani Isrāʾīl. Its connection to Nabi ʿĪsā عليه السلام also reinforces the shared spiritual history that permeates these blessed lands. Bir Yaʿqūb stands as a timeless symbol of divine guidance, patience, and the deep-rooted history of the Prophets of Allah ﷻ in Palestine.