202 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMADAl-Bukhari related this similarly from 'Ali b. al-Madini, from Ya'qab h.
Ibraim.
My own comment is that in adding to it, Wthmm h. 'Affm, God bless him,
was putting into effect the words of the Messenger of God (SAAS), "Whoever
builds a mosque for God, even if only like the hollowed out nest of a sand-
grouse, will have a house built for him by God in paradise."
The Companions living at that time agreed with him in this, and they made
no changes after 'Uthman. This gives support to the preponderant view of the
scholars that the rules applicable to the original Structure will also apply to the
extensions made to that structure and thus, those who perform their prayer in
that new section will also share in the virtues allotted to those who pray in the
original section. Included in this is the waiver of the prohibition of undertaking
a journey to any sacred place except the kacba and the Prophet's mosque."
It was expanded in the time of al-Walid h. 'Abd al-Malik, the builder of the
Damascus mosque. Its expansion was undertaken at his orders by 'Umsr h. 'Abd
alLCAziz when he was governor of Medina. He added to it the hujrat
al-nabamiyya, the burial chamber of the Prophet (SAAS). Substantial later addi-
tions were made to it. On the side of the prayer niche it was expanded, so much
so that the original niche and the rawda, the promenade, became positioned after
the front rows, as it is to he seen today.Ibn Ishaq stated, "The Messenger of God (SAAS) stayed with Aba Ayyab until
his mosque and apartments were built. The Messenger of God (SAAS) himself
worked in it to inspire the Muslims with a desire to work there. Both Emigrants
and Helpers co-operated busily in this. One Muslim worker spoke the verse,
"For us to sit while the Prophet worked would indeed be
misdirected action."As they worked the Muslims chanted,
"There's no life but that of the hereafter; 0 God,
have mercy on both Helpers and Emigrants."The Messenger of God (SAAS) himself spoke the words,
"There's no life but that of the hereafter; 0 God,
have mercy on both Emigrants and Helpers."43- This statement alludes to the teachings of the Prophet regarding the sanctity of the mosque.
In one tradition he said that those who perform a single prayer in his masque will have it increased
a thousand fold. - The point of this quotation, in which the positions of the Arabic wards for Emigrants and
Helpers are transposed thus spoiling the meter, seems to be to provide evidence that the Prophet
(SAAS) had no ear for verse, therefore further establishing the divine origin of the (&'%I. See also
Sir William Muir: The Life ofMuhomnodLondon, 1877, p. 184.