Residence at the Home of Abū Ayyūb

Abu Ayyūb Anṣārī(ra) immediately prepared his home and returned. The Holy Prophet(sa) proceeded inside along with him. This was a two-storey home. Abū Ayyūb(ra) desired that the Holy Prophet(sa) stay on the top floor. However, taking into consideration the ease of those people who would come to visit, the Holy Prophet(sa) preferred the ground-floor and resided there. At nightfall, Abū Ayyūb(ra) and his wife could not sleep all night in the thought that the Holy Prophet(sa) was beneath them, and they were above him. In addition to this, it so happened that during the night a pail of water broke on the roof. In his fear, Abū Ayyūb(ra) quickly placed his quilt over the water to dry it, in order to prevent even a single droplet of water from seeping through to the ground floor. In the morning, he presented himself before the Holy Prophet(sa), and implored the Holy Prophet(sa) to stay on the top floor. At first, the Holy Prophet(sa) hesitated, but upon witnessing the insistence of Abū Ayyūb(ra), he agreed. The Holy Prophet(sa) stayed in this home for seven months, or according to Ibni Isḥāq, he remained here until the month of Ṣafar1 2 A.H. In other words, the Holy Prophet(sa) remained here until the construction of Masjid-e-Nabawī, and the adjacent living-quarters of the Holy Prophet(sa). Abū Ayyūb(ra) would present food to the Holy Prophet(sa), and then, whatever would remain of it, he would eat himself. Due to his love and sincerity, he would eat from where the Holy Prophet(sa) had taken his food.2 Other Companions would also present food to the Holy Prophet(sa). As such, among these people the name of Sa‘d bin ‘Ubādah(ra), chieftain of the Khazraj tribe, has been mentioned particularly in history. Anas bin Mālik(ra) was a ten year old orphan of Madīnah. His mother, Ummi Salamah, who was very sincere, brought him to the Holy Prophet(sa), and said, “O Messenger of Allāh! I present Anas in your service. Kindly pray for him and accept him so that he may serve you.” The Holy Prophet(sa) supplicated for his prosperity, and accepted him in his service. After this, Anas bin Mālik(ra) began to live in service of the Holy Prophet(sa), and did not depart from this service until the demise of the Holy Prophet(sa). This is the same Anas(ra) on whose authority many narrations have been related in the books of Aḥādīth. He was from among the distinct Companions of the Holy Prophet(sa). Anas(ra) was blessed with a long life and passed away in 91 A.H., or 93 A.H., at Baṣrah, when there was perhaps only one or two other Companions alive at the time. In his last days, he would often say that, “Due to the prayer of the Holy Prophet(sa), my wealth and progeny were blessed more than I could imagine. Now I am only waiting for his prayer regarding paradise to be fulfilled in my favour.”

Shortly after reaching Madīnah, the Holy Prophet(sa) sent Zaid bin Ḥārithah(ra) to Makkah with some money. In a few days, he returned safely to Madīnah with the family of the Holy Prophet(sa), and his own. Along with him, ‘Abdullāh bin Abī Bakr also brought the family of Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr(ra) to Madīnah as well.