Participation in the Battle of Rome & Demise

Hazrat Abu Ayub Ansari (ra) also participated in the Battle of Rome in spite of his old age. He only participated in order to witness [the fulfilment of] the prophecy of the Holy Prophet (sa) regarding Constantinople.

However, he also fell ill in that duration. When he was asked as to what his final wishes were, his reply was to convey his greetings to every Muslim and for his grave to be as close as possible to the land of the enemy. Henceforth, after his demise during the night, his coffin was taken to the furthest possible point in the land of the enemy where he was buried.

Even today his grave is found in Turkey and it is said and there are also narrations, people have crafted narrations pertaining harmful innovations that people supplicate him. Certainly, it is not he who is supplicated but whatever one prays for at his grave, that prayer is accepted.

Anyhow, with the passage of time, such stories are concocted. The result of the prayer of the Holy Prophet (sa) of protection and security of Abu Ayub (ra) was that he participated in many battles and every time came forth as a ghazi [Muslim soldier who has triumphed battle] and he attained a very long life.