Construction of Masjid an-Nabawi

This first Friday prayer was offered in the mosque of the Banu Salim neighborhood of Madinah, where you offered the Friday prayer. This mosque is now called Masjid Jumu‘ah. It is located on the left side of the road leading toward Quba.

Thus, this was the first Friday prayer. The Noble Prophet ﷺ also delivered a sermon before this prayer. Some of what he said in that first sermon was:

“So whoever wants to save himself from the Fire of Hell should certainly save himself, even if it is with half a date. Whoever has nothing should hold firmly to the Kalimah Tayyibah, because the reward of a good deed is granted from double up to seven hundred times. And peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, and may the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon him.”

After offering the Friday prayer, the Noble Prophet ﷺ mounted his she-camel to proceed toward Madinah. He loosened its reins, meaning that he allowed it to go wherever it wished.

The she-camel first looked to the right and left, as though deciding which direction to take before setting off. At this point, the people of Banu Salim — that is, those whose neighborhood was where the Friday prayer had been offered — requested:

“O Messenger of Allah! Please stay with us. There are many people here. You will have complete protection here. We also have wealth. We have weapons with us. We have gardens, and all the necessities of life are available here.”

The Prophet ﷺ smiled after hearing them, thanked them, and said:

“Leave the path of my she-camel. Let it go wherever it wishes, because it has been commanded.”

The meaning was that the she-camel would proceed by the command of Allah Almighty and that it knew its destination.

The Prophet ﷺ prayed for these people:

“May Allah Almighty bless you.”

After this, the she-camel proceeded until it reached the neighborhood of Banu Bayadah. The people there also requested the Prophet ﷺ to stay with them. He gave them the same answer that he had given to Banu Salim.

Likewise, they passed through the area of Banu Sa‘idah. These people also made the same request. The Prophet ﷺ gave them the same answer.

The she-camel continued onward. Now it entered the neighborhood of Banu ‘Adi. The maternal relatives of the Prophet’s grandfather, ‘Abd al-Muttalib, lived there.

They said:

“We are your maternal relatives, so please stay here. You also have family ties with us. We are numerous in number as well. We will protect you to the fullest extent. Furthermore, we are your relatives, so do not leave us and go elsewhere.”

The Prophet ﷺ gave them the same answer: this she-camel had been commanded, and it knew its destination.

The she-camel sat down. The Prophet ﷺ had not yet dismounted when it suddenly stood up again. It walked a few steps and then stopped.

The Prophet ﷺ had continued to leave its reins loose.

After that, the she-camel returned to the place where it had first sat down. It sat there again, placed its neck upon the ground, and made a sound without opening its mouth.

Now the Noble Prophet ﷺ dismounted from it and said:

“O my Lord! Make me alight at a blessed place, and You are the Best of those who provide a place to stay.”

The Prophet ﷺ said this four times. Then he said:

“Insha’Allah, this will be the place of our stay.”

The Prophet ﷺ then ordered that his belongings be unloaded.

Hazrat Abu Ayyub al-Ansari رضي الله عنه said:

“Shall I take your belongings to my house?”

The Prophet ﷺ gave him permission. He unloaded the belongings and took them to his house.

At that very moment, Hazrat As‘ad ibn Zurarah رضي الله عنه arrived. He took hold of the she-camel’s halter and led the she-camel away. Thus, the she-camel became his guest.

When the Prophet ﷺ stayed among Banu Najjar, their young girls took up their duffs and, overcome with happiness, began playing them and singing:

Translation: “We are among the neighbors of Banu Najjar. How fortunate it is that Muhammad ﷺ is our neighbor.”

Hearing their voices, the Noble Prophet ﷺ came outside. He approached them and said:

“Do you love me?”

They replied:

“Yes, O Messenger of Allah.”

The Prophet ﷺ then said:

“Allah knows that my heart too is filled with love for you.”

The Noble Prophet ﷺ stayed at the house of Hazrat Abu Ayyub al-Ansari رضي الله عنه until Masjid an-Nabawi and his chamber adjoining it were completed. He stayed there for approximately eleven months.

When the Prophet ﷺ came from Quba to Madinah, most of the Muhajirun also came to Madinah with him.

At that time, the enthusiasm of the Ansari Muslims was something worth seeing. All of them wished for the Muhajirun to stay in their homes.

As a result, a discussion arose among them. Eventually, the Ansar drew lots for the Muhajirun. In this way, whichever Muhajir fell to the share of a particular Ansari, that Muhajir stayed with that Ansari.

The Ansari Muslims not only gave the Muhajirun accommodation in their homes, but also spent their wealth and money on them.

Before the arrival of the Muhajirun, the Ansari Muslims used to offer congregational prayer at one place. Hazrat As‘ad ibn Zurarah رضي الله عنه used to lead them in prayer.

When the Prophet ﷺ arrived, the first concern was to build a mosque.

The Prophet ﷺ mounted his she-camel and loosened its reins. The she-camel began walking and went to the place where Masjid an-Nabawi stands today, and then sat down.

The place where the Muslims used to offer prayer was also nearby. At that time, only walls had been erected there; there was no roof over them.

When the she-camel sat down, the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Enough! The mosque will be built at this place.”

After this, the Prophet ﷺ said to Hazrat As‘ad ibn Zurarah رضي الله عنه:

“Sell this land for the mosque.”

In reality, this land belonged to two orphan boys, Sahl and Suhayl, and Hazrat As‘ad ibn Zurarah رضي الله عنه was their guardian.

There is also a narration that their guardian was Mu‘adh ibn ‘Afra’ رضي الله عنه.

Upon hearing the Prophet’s words, Hazrat Abu Ayyub al-Ansari رضي الله عنه said:

“You may take this land. I will pay its price to the two of them.”

The Prophet ﷺ refused this offer and purchased that piece of land for ten dinars.

This price was paid from the wealth of Hazrat Abu Bakr al-Siddiq رضي الله عنه.

(What a fortunate destiny Hazrat Abu Bakr al-Siddiq رضي الله عنه had, that until the Day of Judgment, the reward of those who pray in Masjid an-Nabawi continues to be written in his record of deeds.)

There is also a narration that the Prophet ﷺ called the two orphan boys. He spoke to them regarding the land.

They said:

“O Messenger of Allah! We give this land as a gift.”

The Prophet ﷺ refused to accept the gift of these orphans and purchased that piece of land from them for ten dinars.

He ordered Hazrat Abu Bakr al-Siddiq رضي الله عنه to pay them the ten dinars. Accordingly, he paid them the amount.

After purchasing the land, the Prophet ﷺ intended to begin construction of the mosque. He ordered that bricks be made, and then mortar was prepared.

The Prophet ﷺ placed the first brick with his blessed hands.

Then he ordered Hazrat Abu Bakr al-Siddiq رضي الله عنه to place the second brick. He placed the second brick beside the brick laid by the Prophet ﷺ.

Then Hazrat ‘Umar رضي الله عنه was called. He placed the third brick beside the brick of al-Siddiq al-Akbar رضي الله عنه.

Then the Prophet ﷺ called Hazrat ‘Uthman رضي الله عنه. He placed the fourth brick beside the brick of Hazrat ‘Umar رضي الله عنه.

At the same time, the Prophet ﷺ said:

“These will be the caliphs after me.”

(Al-Mustadrak of al-Hakim has declared this Hadith authentic.)

Then the Noble Prophet ﷺ instructed the Muslims in general:

“Now begin laying the stones.”