Demise & Grave
It is mentioned in a narration that in 52 AH, Yazid bin Muawiyah fought in the battle in Constantinople during the rule of his father, Amir Muawiyah, and in the same year, Hazrat Abu Ayub Ansari (ra) passed away.
Yazid bin Muwaiyah led his funeral prayer and his grave is by a fortress in Constantinople. The narrator states that he learnt that the Romans protected his grave and maintained it and through him, they sought water during the days of drought.
(Ibn Saad, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 3 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 1990], 369-270) (Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah, Vol. 2, Khalid bin Zaid [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 1995], 201) (Ahmad bin Hanbal, Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Vol. 7, Musnad Abu Ayub Ansari, Hadith 23912 [Beirut, Lebanon: Alam al-Kutub, 1998], 768)
According to a narration, during the rule of Amir Muawiyah, Hazrat Abu Ayub Ansari (ra) fought in the battle against the Byzantine government under the command of Yazid. He passed away and was buried near the city of Constantinople in 50 AH or 51 AH.
According to another narration, Yazid ordered his cavalry to run back and forth over the grave of Hazrat Abu Ayub Ansari (ra) until there remained no sign of it.
It is also mentioned that the morning after when Hazrat Abu Ayub Ansari (ra) was buried, the Romans enquired of the Muslims as to what they were doing at night. The Muslims replied by saying, “Hazrat Abu Ayub Ansari (ra) was among the revered companions of the Holy Prophet (sa) and had accepted Islam before any of us. We buried him as you can see. By God, if his grave is dug up, then as long as we have authority, your [church] bells shall not ring in the Arab lands.”
Mujahid states that whenever a drought would befall them, they would move some dirt off the grave of [Hazrat Abu Ayub Ansari (ra)] and rain would begin to fall.
(Ali Ibn al-Athir, Usd al-Ghabah fi Ma‘rifat al-Sahabah, Vol. 6, Hazrat Abu Ayub al-Ansari [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 2003], 23)
This narration has been recorded, but Allah knows best how accurate it is. Hazrat Abu Ayub Ansari (ra) passed away during the battle in Constantinople in 50 AH, 51 AH or 52 AH; however, the majority are of the opinion that it was in 52 AH.
(Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah, Vol. 2, Khalid bin Zaid [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 1995], 201)
The grave of Hazrat Abu Ayub Ansari (ra) is in the city of Istanbul, Turkey. The grave is in a terrace, which is closed off by a brass grid door. Many people in Turkey visit it for the purpose of seeking comfort and peace.
(Salman bin Akhtar, Tabarrukat Sahabah ka Taswiri Album [Karachi, Pakistan: Maktabat Arsalan, 2011], 35, 50)