The Prophet peace be and blessings upon him stayed for four days in Quba where he laid the foundation of a mosque. He left Quba on Friday; the time for Friday prayers found him among the clan of Banu Salim b. ‘Auf where he performed the prayer in their mosque. This was the first Friday prayer offered by the Prophet of Allah peace be and blessings upon him in Medinah. (Ibn Hisham, Vol. I, pp. 494).

In the house of Abu Ayyub Ansaari

As the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him rode through the streets of the city, people approached him in throngs with everyone offering to accommodate him in their homes. They said, “Live with us and enjoy our wealth, honor and protection.”

Sometimes they took hold o his camel’s halter, but he said to one and all: “Let her go her way. She is guided by Allah.” This happened more than once.

While the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him was going through the locality of Bani an‐Najjaar, the slave girls of the clan recited these verses to greet him:

“Daughters of Bani Najjaar we are, What luck! Muhammed is our neighbor!

On reaching the house of Bani Malik ibn an‐Najjaar, the Prophets camel knelt by herself at the place where now stands the gate of the Prophet’s mosque. The place was then used for drying the dates and belonged to two orphan boys who were related to the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him on his mother’s side.

The Prophet peace be and blessings upon him alighted from his camel. Abu Ayyub Khalid ibn Zayd, who belonged to the clan of an‐Najjaar, hastily unloaded the camel and took the luggage to his house. Thus, the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him stayed with Abu Ayyub, who paid him the greatest respect and did all he could to entertain the honored guests. Abu Ayyub was loath even to live in the upper‐story that he requested the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him to occupy the place and came down with his family to live in the ground floor. The Prophet peace be and blessings upon him, however, said to him, “O Abu Ayyub, it would be more convenient for me as well as those who come to see me if I stay in the lower portion.”

Abu Ayyub Ansaari was not a man of means, but he was extremely happy on having the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him as his guest.

He was beaming with joy at the great honor bestowed by Allah on him. The loving regard he paid to the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him was an indication of his genuine gratitude to Allah and the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him himself. “We used to prepare the evening meal for the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him of Allah, says Abu Ayyub, “and send it to him.” We used to take only what was left. Umm Ayyub and I took the food from beside the part that the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him had eaten in order to partake in its blessings. In compliance with the Prophet’s preference, he lived in the ground floor, while we occupied the upper portion. Once, we broke a jar of water whereby Umm Ayyub and I mopped up the water with the only robe we had for fear that it would drop on the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him thereby causing him inconvenience.

Construction of the Prophet's Mosque

The Prophet peace be and blessings upon him sent for the two boys who owned the date‐store and asked them to name the price of the yard.

They answered, “Nay, but we shall make thee a gift of it, O Prophet peace be and blessings upon him of Allah!” The Prophet peace be and blessings upon him, however, refused their offer, paid them its price and built a mosque from there.

The Prophet peace be and blessings upon him himself carried the unburned bricks for construction of the building along with the other Muslims. He is reported to have recited as he worked.

“O Allah! The true reward is the reward of the hereafter, have mercy O Allah on the Ansaars and Mujajirun.” (Ibn Kathir, Vol. II, p. 251).

Overjoyed to see the Messenger of Allah peace be and blessings upon him invoking blessings on them, the Muslims, too, sang and thanked Allah. The Prophet peace be and blessings upon him lived in the house of Abu Ayyub Ansaari for seven months. (Ibn Kathir, Vol. II, p. 279). In the meantime, the construction of the mosque and dwelling place for the Prophet’s family was already completed and so he moved to live in his house.

The Muslims who had been restrained from migration by the polytheist of Makkah, continued to emigrate to Madinah until the only ones left there were those who were either forcibly detained or had apostatized. On the other hand, not a house of Ansaar was left without the people having sworn allegiance to Allah and His Prophet peace be and blessings upon him. (Ibn Hisham, Vol. I, pp. 499‐500).

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