The People of Madinah Welcome the Prophet (peace be upon him) When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) arrived in Madinah, no one could truly describe the immense welcome and love he received from the people of Madinah, the Ansar (Helpers), who became known by that title because they supported the Islamic mission. Everyone was eagerly awaiting the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)—both the Muhajirun (Emigrants) and the Ansar—to receive him. After thirteen difficult years in Makkah, after enduring persecution, the boycott, the ordeal of Ta’if, the harm and mockery of Quraysh, and a relentless campaign of defamation that even led people to call him “the sorcerer of Makkah,” he finally approached Madinah. The Ansar had never seen the Prophet in their lives; they had only heard about him and believed in him. They had heard stories of his childhood, of the Cave of Hira, of Dar al-Arqam (the first center of Islamic preaching), and of his Night Journey and Ascension (Isra and Mi’raj). They knew that he was the most beloved of Allah’s creation—and now he was coming to them. They would finally see him with their own eyes. Every neighborhood and clan of the Ansar poured into the streets. Madinah was filled with men, women, children, elders, and tribal leaders, all leaving their homes, longing to catch a glimpse of him. The city had been preparing for this moment long before his arrival. Almost every household in Madinah had embraced Islam, yet most had never met the Prophet. Those who had accepted Islam without seeing him longed intensely for his arrival, and those who had met him previously and pledged allegiance to him longed even more to see him again. When word spread that he had left Quba and was heading toward Madinah, the city erupted in joy. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was at its gates. Men, women, and children came out to welcome him, eager to look upon him. Surrounding him were his maternal relatives from Banu al-Najjar, along with other Muhajirun and Ansar, gathered around his camel, Al-Qaswa, carrying their swords to protect him from anyone who might wish him harm. Abu Bakr rode behind him. When they finally saw him approaching from a distance, the children and young boys shouted at the top of their voices: “Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! The Messenger of Allah has come! Allahu Akbar! Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, has appeared before us!” Even the elderly women stood atop their rooftops, trying to catch a glimpse of him and asking, “Where is he?” As he approached them, Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Everything in Madinah became illuminated by the light of his face.” Al-Bara’ ibn Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I never saw the people of Madinah rejoice over anything as much as they rejoiced over the Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) rode his camel through the crowds, while around five hundred companions surrounded him in a protective circle. They carried their weapons out of honor, reverence, and respect for him. The people gathered around him, and happiness could be seen on his blessed face as he looked upon these faithful hearts and radiant faces welcoming him. As he traveled through the city, the clans of Aws and Khazraj stood at the doors of their homes on both sides of the road, joyfully greeting him. Every tribal chief and head of household hoped that the Prophet would choose to stay as their guest. Representatives from the clans came forward, taking hold of the camel’s reins and saying: “O Messenger of Allah, stay with us! We are people of honor and generosity.” Each group wanted the Prophet as its guest. But he replied, describing his camel: “Leave her alone, for she is guided. Let her go her way, for she is commanded.” He loosened the reins and allowed the camel to proceed freely. Why did he do this? The Prophet understood the sensitivities that still existed between Aws and Khazraj. Out of his noble character and his desire to unite their hearts, he did not wish to choose one family or tribe over another. Given their long history of conflict, such a choice might have left resentment in some hearts. But who could object to the choice of Allah? So the Prophet let the camel go wherever Allah directed it. The camel continued walking until it reached the site where the Prophet’s Mosque (Al-Masjid an-Nabawi) stands today. It stopped at a date-drying yard belonging to two orphan boys from Banu al-Najjar. Nearby was an old cemetery, and only a few houses surrounded the area. The camel stopped, looked around, then knelt down at the very spot where the Prophet’s pulpit would later stand. The companions later said that the Prophet’s pulpit was built at the exact place where the camel first knelt. The Prophet remained seated on the camel. Then the camel rose again and walked around the boundaries of what would become the mosque, as though tracing its outline. Afterward, it returned to the original spot and knelt down once more. This time, it settled firmly, made a sound, stretched out its neck, and rested completely. The Prophet knew that this was where he would stay. He said: “Here, if Allah wills, shall be our dwelling place.” The companions were astonished. It was simply an open piece of land beside a cemetery. Where would the Prophet stay? Then he asked: “Which of our relatives lives closest to this place?” Abu Ayyub al-Ansari replied: “I do, O Messenger of Allah. The door before you is the door of my house.” The Prophet said: “Take our belongings there.” Thus, the Prophet stayed as a guest in the house of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari. Some people suggested: “Stay with us, O Messenger of Allah. Our homes are larger.” At that moment, As’ad ibn Zurarah, one of the leaders of the Ansar, said: “Abu Ayyub has won this honor.” He then asked permission to care for the Prophet’s camel, Al-Qaswa, and the Prophet agreed. Abu Ayyub’s house had two levels. He wanted the Prophet to stay upstairs, but the Prophet preferred the lower floor because it was more convenient for receiving visitors. Every day Abu Ayyub would respectfully insist: “O Messenger of Allah, we fear that dust may fall upon you from above, or that our movements at night may disturb you. Please move upstairs.” But the Prophet would answer: “Leave your house to you, Abu Ayyub.” One cold night, a water jar accidentally broke in the upper floor. Fearing that the water would seep through the ceiling and drip onto the Prophet below, Abu Ayyub and his wife used their blanket to absorb all the water. They spent the night shivering without a cover. The next morning, the Prophet said: “How was your night, Abu Ayyub?” Abu Ayyub explained what had happened. The Prophet then said: “We will move upstairs, and you may stay downstairs.” He did so because he saw the hardship it caused them. Allah described him as: “Kind and merciful toward the believers.” Abu Ayyub later said: “Every evening we would send the Prophet his meal. When the dish was returned, my wife and I would look for the places where his fingers had touched the food and eat from those places.” On one occasion the dish returned untouched. Concerned, Abu Ayyub asked the Prophet about it. The Prophet did not respond to the remark. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) remained a servant of Allah, and Muslims worship Allah alone, seek help from Allah alone, and place their trust in Allah alone. According to a narration in Sahih al-Bukhari, the Prophet remained in Abu Ayyub’s house for about seven months until the Prophet’s Mosque and the living quarters of his wives were completed. Abu Ayyub loved striving in the path of Allah and participated in all the major campaigns alongside the Prophet. Years later, after the Prophet’s passing, he continued to serve the Muslim community. Even in old age—when he was over ninety years old—he joined the expedition against Constantinople. During the siege, he fell ill and requested that he be buried as close as possible to the enemy’s walls. His companions carried out his wish and buried him there. Centuries later, after the city was conquered, a mosque was built near his grave. It remains a well-known landmark today, known as Eyüp Sultan Mosque.