The Construction of Masjid-e-Nabawi
After arriving in Medina [after the migration from Mecca], the Holy Prophet (sa) turned his attention towards constructing a mosque. Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) has written about this in The Life and Character of the Seal of Prophets:
“Upon arriving in Medina, the first task was the construction of Masjid-e-Nabawi. The place where the camel of the Holy Prophet (sa) chose to rest, was the property of two children from Medina named Sahl and Suhail, who lived in the guardianship of Hazrat As‘ad (ra) bin Zurarah. This was a vacant land, on which a few date palms had been planted in one area. In another area, there were ruins, etc. The Holy Prophet (sa) selected this plot to construct the Masjid-e-Nabawi, and his own living quarters. This plot of land was purchased for 10 dinars, (and an equivalent figure of that era has been given in Rupees in the book) and by levelling the place, and cutting down the trees, the construction of Masjid-e-Nabawibegan. The Holy Prophet (sa) supplicated to Allah, and laid the foundation stone himself. Just as in the construction of the mosque at Quba, the Companions (ra) worked as builders and labourers. The Holy Prophet (sa) would also participate at times.”
(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), p. 269)
As has been mentioned, the Holy Prophet (sa) purchased a plot for the mosque and residential quarters for ten dinars and in the traditions, it is mentioned that this amount was paid out of Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) wealth.
(Mawahib al-Laduniyyah, Vol. 1, Bina al-Masjid al-Nabawi [Makrabah Islami, 2004], p. 316)
Further details regarding the construction of the mosque are as follows; at the start of the construction, the Holy Prophet (sa) placed a brick with his own blessed hands. The Holy Prophet (sa) then called for Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), who placed a brick beside the one placed by the Holy Prophet (sa). Following this, the Holy Prophet (sa) called for Hazrat Umar (ra), who placed a brick next to the one placed by Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra). Hazrat Uthman (ra) came after this and he placed a brick next to the one placed by Hazrat Umar (ra).
In another narration, it is mentioned that when the Holy Prophet (sa) constructed the mosque, he laid the foundation stone and said to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), “Place your stone next to mine.” He then said to Hazrat Umar (ra), “Place your stone next to Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra).” Following this, he said to Hazrat Uthman (ra), “Place your stone next to Hazrat Umar’s (ra).”
(Ali bin Burhan al-Din al-Halabi, Al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 2, Bab al-Hijrah [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2002], p. 90)
When the Holy Prophet (sa) returned victorious from the Battle of Khaybar in the month of Muharram, in the seventh year after Hijra, he ordered for the expansion and reconstruction of Masjid-e-Nabawi. Even on this occasion, the Holy Prophet (sa) personally participated in the construction of the mosque along with his noble Companions (ra).
(Justuju-e-Medina [Pakistan: Oriental Publications], p. 446)
Ubaidullah bin Abdillah relates, “When the Holy Prophet (sa) granted us plots of land for our homes in Medina, he allotted a piece of land for Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) close to the mosque.”
(Ibn Saad, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 3, Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra) wa min Bani Tayyim… [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi, 1996], p. 93)