THE MOSQUE OF QUBA
The Prophet (r) 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 (r) in Medinah. (Ibn Hisham, Vol. I, pp. 494).
IN THE HOUSE OF ABU AYYUB ANSAARI
As the Prophet (r) 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 (r) 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 b. 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 (r) on
his mother’s side.
The Prophet (r) alighted from his camel. Abu Ayyub Khalid b. Zayd, who belonged to the
clan of an-Najjaar, hastily unloaded the camel and took the luggage to his house. Thus, the
Prophet (r) 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 (r) to occupy the place and came down with his family to live in
the ground floor. The Prophet (r), 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 (r) 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 (r) was an indication of his genuine gratitude
to Allah and the Prophet (r) himself. “We used to prepare the evening meal for the Prophet
(r) 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 (r) 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