Prophet Muhammad (2)

Prophet Muhammad (2)

Allah's Messenger arrives in Madeenah

Finally, after an eight-day journey, the Prophet arrived at Qubaa', on the eighth of Rabee al-Awwal. Qubaa' lies at a distance of two miles (3.2 km) away from Madeenah. It was generally taken as a locality of Madeenah and was largely inhabited by Banu 'Amr in "Awf who had already accepted Islam.

A few days before the departure of the Prophet from Makkah, the news of his arrival in Madeenah had spread. Crowds came flocking out of Madeenah. Everyday, they would eagerly wait for his appearance since the early morning and would only be forced to return, rather disappointed, by the unbearable heat of the midday sun.

One day, after people had long gone back to their homes, a Jew, whe had caught a glimpse of three travellers winding their way to Madeenah, shouted at the top of his voice, O people of Arabia! The person you have eagerly been waiting for has come!"

Having heard this call, the believers rushed out of their homes, and waves of joy and happiness gripped the whole atmosphere of Qubaa'. They were overjoyed at the safe arrival of the Prophet and his companions. It was the best thing they had ever witnessed. People came streaming forth and vied with one another to invite the noble visitor to their homes.

Anas in Maalik al-Ansaaree , a boy at the time, says,"I saw Allah's Messenger the day he entered Madeenah. I have not seen a more radiant day than when he came to us in Madeenah."

Among the Companions who hurried to meet the Prophet in Qubaa' were the muhaajiroon who had reached Madeenah before the Prophet . Ali ibn Abee Taalib caught up with the Prophet in Qubaa' and stayed with him in the house of Kulthoom ibn ul-Hidm. It must have taken him some days to reach Qubaa; since he stayed in Makkah for three days after the Prophet had left. Scholars differ as to the exact duration of the Prophet's stay in Qubaa', but al-Bukhaaree in an authentic hadeeth says his stay there lasted fourteen days. Allah's Messenger founded a mosque in Qubaa during his stay there the very first mosque in Islam.

The Qur'an highly commends this first mosque because it was built on the foundation of piety and fear of Allah: "Indeed, the mosque that was founded on piety from the first day is worthier for you to stand there in; in it are men who love to purify themselves, and Allah loves those who purify themselves." (Surat at-Tawbah, 9:108)

The hypocrites, later on, established another mosque with the intention of dividing the Muslim Community. The Quran forbade the Prophet to pray in the mosque built by the hypocrites. The mosque was termed Masjid adh-Dhiraar, the mosque of discord. The Prophet's short stay in Qubaa' was a very pleasant one, full of joy and happiness. For the first time in over thirteen years, he felt safe and unthreatened.

On the fourteenth day, after their arrival at the southern suburb of Madeenah, the Prophet set out from Qubaa' to the centre of the city. It was a Friday.At noon, he stopped among the Banu Salem, where he offered the Jumu'ah prayer. As the procession pressed on, leading personalities from the city came forward and asked the Prophet to stay in their midst. But the Prophet politely apologized, saying that his famous she-camel, al-Qaswaa', was commanded by Allah and that his home would be wherever it stopped.

The Prophet enters the City and the House of Abu Ayyoob

When the procession reached the houses of Banu al-Haarith, a large company of their men halted it and warmly invited the Prophet to remain with them. The Prophetrefused as before and made a polite apology. Almost everyone had rushed to welcome the Prophet . The whole city participated in the joyful procession, which extended for almost two miles. Women stood on balconies. Children climbed rooftops and trees to catch a glimpse of the Prophet .

The procession reached the quarters of Banu an-Najjaar, the maternal uncles of the Prophet , and first of all the quarters of 'Adi ibn an-Najjaar, a sub-clan of Banu an-Naijaar. Here too, the Prophet was invited to stay, on behalf of all. Again the Prophet made his apology and the procession moved on.

When they reached the quarters of Banu Maalik, another sub-clan of Banu an-Najjaar, al-Qaswaa' halted in the middle of a large and open plot of land and knelt down. This is the very place where the Prophet's Mosque stands today. The nearest house was that of Abu Ayoob al-Ansaaree, who came forward and warmly invited the Prophet , pointing to his two-storey house, which was only a few meters away.

Allah's Messenger accepted the invitation. Abu Ayyoob quickly moved their luggage into his house. A neighbour, the celebrated As'aad ibn Zurarah, came forward and led al-Qaswaa' into the courtyard of his house to take care of her for the Prophet Thus, the problem of the Prophet's stay in Madeenah was settled without creating any feeling of favour or disfavour amongst the various clans of Madeenah.

Abu Ayoob expressed his embarrassment to the Prophet who dismissed it with a gentle smile, saying, "O Abu Ayyoob! The ground floor is more convenient for us and for our guests and visitors."

The Prophet and his Companion, Abu Bakr, occupied the ground floor of Abu Ayyoob's house. Abu Ayyoob and his wife occupied the upper floor - not without embarrassment Wadi Buthan * This is the very place Abu Ayyoob's house where the Prophet's Mosque stands today. for them. They considered it disrespectful. He disliked being above, with the Prophet beneath him.

There was in fact a flood of guests and visitors. The women of Banu an-Najaar were anxious to catch a glimpse of the Prophet . Those who were unable to see him when he entered the city flocked to Abu Ayoob's dwelling. Their passionate curiosity and excitement was really great. Abu Ayyoob's house was, obviously, the centre of all the attention and emotion that the Prophet's presence attracted. It remained so for the full seven months of his stay. The house was also honoured by being, for seven months, the centre of revelations to the Prophet .

Abu Ayyoob and his wife were very delighted with their guests. As is the Arabian custom, the duties of hospitality were shared with neighbours. Each evening, three or four neighbours would come with dinner in their hands. They were anxious to serve their Prophet

Only two anxious moments marred the contentment of their host. The first was when an earthen pot of water broke and a great deal of water spilled onto the floor of the upper storey of Abu Ayyoob's home. Afraid that it might leak below, Abu Ayyoob used the whole of his bed sheet in an attempt to soak up the water. Then he went down to the Prophet and requested yet again that he move to the upper floor. Seeing that he was distraught, Allah's Messenger agreed.

The second anxious moment came when the Prophet returned the food that had been prepared for him untouched. Abu Awoob rushed upstairs, deeply disturbed. He asked, "O Allah's Messenger ! Did you not like our food tonight?" The Prophet explained, "No, Abu Ayyoob, but I found in it the strong smell of garlic and onion. You may eat it, if you wish. I speak to one to whom you do not speak," referring to Angel Jibreel .

Abu Ayyoob and his wife never served him these vegetables again. They would prepare his evening meal and send it to him. If he returned it and there were any morsels left, they would try to see where his fingers had touched it and would then eat that part, hoping to be blessed by it.

1. The people of Qubaa' were still disbelievers. 2. The arrival of the Prophet was the best thing that the people of Madeenah had ever witnessed. 3. The Prophet's camel was under the command of Allah.

A. State if these statements are true or false.

2. Abu Ayyoob asked the Prophet to stay on the upper floor.

1. The Prophet stayed on the ground floor.

B. Give reasons for the following.

C. Answer the following questions.

What reward does one get for praying in Qubaa' Mosque, which is the first mosque in Islam?

D. Think-up

Thank you!

How do you know that the people were anxiously waiting for the Prophet ?

Where was the first Jumu'ah prayer offered?

In whose house did the Prophet stay, and for how long?

Why was the hypocrites' mosque called 'Masjid adh-Dhirar"?

When did the Prophet arrive at Qubaa', and how long did he stay there?