The Holy Prophet (sa) Arrival in Medina

“The utter simplicity of the Holy Prophet (sa) is illustrated by an incident which took place at this time. Most people in Medina had not seen the Holy Prophet (sa) before. The Holy Prophet (sa) was sat under a tree outside of Quba, and people rushed towards them from Medina. Since the Holy Prophet (sa) was sat in a most simple manner, many of them who were unaware took Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) for the Holy Prophet (sa). Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), though younger, had a greyer beard and was wearing slightly better clothes than the Holy Prophet (sa). Hence, they would turn to him and sit in front of him with great respect. When Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) saw this, he realised that people had made a mistake. He quickly rose and took his mantle and hung it against the sun and said, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! You are in the sun. I make this shade for you.’ In this subtle manner, he made plain to the people their error.”

(Dibachah Tafsir-ul-Quran, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 20, pp. 226-227)

Whilst mentioning the details of this incident, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) has referenced a narration of Bukhari and writes:

“There is a narration in Bukhari related by Bara’ bin Azib that, ‘I have never seen the Ansar as happy as they were at the arrival of the Holy Prophet (sa) to Medina, on any other occasion.’ Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah have related from Anas bin Malik that, ‘When the Holy Prophet (sa) arrived, we felt as if Medina had become illuminated; and on the day that the Holy Prophet (sa) passed away, the city of Medina never seemed darker.’

“After meeting the people who had come to receive him, the Holy Prophet (sa) – due to a reason which history has not recorded – did not enter the city directly. Instead, the Holy Prophet (sa) travelled out of his way to the right, and went to an elevated habitation named Quba, which was situated at a distance of 2-2.5 miles from the city. Various families of the Ansar resided here; among them, the family of Amr bin Auf is distinct. In that era, Kulthum bin Al-Hadam was the chief of this family. The Ansar of Quba gave the Holy Prophet (sa) a very warm welcome. The Holy Prophet (sa) stayed in the home of Kulthum bin Al-Hadam. Those Muhajirin who had already reached Quba prior to the arrival of the Holy Prophet (sa), were residing in the home of Kulthum bin Al-Hadam and other nobles from among the Ansar. Perhaps this is the reason behind the Holy Prophet (sa) deciding to first stop in Quba.

In an instance, news of the arrival of the Holy Prophet (sa) spread throughout Medina. All of the Muslims began to gather in troops at the residence of the Holy Prophet (sa) restlessly, in the fervour of their love.”

(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), pp. 264-165)

The Construction of Masjid Quba

With regard to the construction of Masjid Quba, it is mentioned that when the Holy Prophet (sa) arrived in Quba, he laid the foundation for a mosque which is known as Masjid Quba. It is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari that the Holy Prophet (sa) spent more than 10 nights in the village of Banu Amr bin Auf and laid the foundation of a mosque regarding which it is stated that its foundations were laid on taqwa and the Holy Prophet (sa) offered his prayers inside it.

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Manaqib al-Ansar, Bab Hijrat al-Nabisa wa Ashabih ila al-Medina, Hadith 3906)

It is also mentioned in the narration that when the Holy Prophet (sa) laid the foundation, he first placed a stone in the direction of the qiblah [Holy Ka‘bah]. Thereafter, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) placed a stone and then Hazrat Umar (ra) placed a stone next to Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) stone. After this, the rest of the people began working on its construction. During the construction of Masjid Quba, the Holy Prophet (sa) would carry a stone tied to his stomach and it would be a very heavy stone and the Holy Prophet (sa) would then place it down. Others would come and would want to lift the stone, but they would be unable to do so. Upon this, the Holy Prophet (sa) would instruct them to leave it and to take another stone instead.

(Ibn Hisham, Al-Raud al-Unf fi Tafsir al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah, Vol. 2, Ta‘yis Masjid Quba [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 2013], p. 332)

In relation to Masjid Quba, it is mentioned that this was the very mosque whose foundations were established upon taqwa. However, according to some other narrations, it is said that Masjid Nabawi is the mosque whose foundations have been established upon taqwa.

It is mentioned in Sirat-ul-Halabiyyah that there is no contradiction in the two narrations because both mosques have been established upon the foundation of taqwa. This view has been supported by Hazrat ibn Abbas (ra). In his view, the foundations of all the mosques of Medina, in which Masjid Quba is included, were established upon taqwa, but the mosque regarding which the verse of the Holy Quran was revealed was indeed Masjid Quba.

(Ali bin Burhan al-Din al-Halabi, Al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 2 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2002], p. 75)

Masjid Al-Jumu’ah

After spending 10 or 14 nights in Quba, the Holy Prophet (sa) left for Medina. On the way when the Holy Prophet (sa) reached the village of the Banu Salim bin Auf, it was a Friday. The Holy Prophet (sa), along with the Muslims, offered the Jumuah prayer [Friday prayer] in the mosque situated in the Valley of Ranuna. The total number of people was 100. The Valley of Ranuna is situated to the south of Medina. Ever since the Holy Prophet (sa) offered his Jumuah prayers there, it is known as “Masjid al-Jumu‘ah.” This was the first Jumuah offered in Medina.

(Ali bin Burhan al-Din al-Halabi, Al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 2, Bab al-Hijrah ila al-Medina [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2002], p. 75) (Ibn Hisham, Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah, Bab Hijrat al-Rasul (sa) [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2001], p. 349) (Atlas Sirat Nabawisa, p. 168)

Perhaps the mosque was built afterwards and was named Masjid al-Jumu‘ah because the Holy Prophet (sa) offered his Jumuah there. It is then mentioned that after offering the Jumuah prayers, the Holy Prophet (sa) mounted upon his camel and left for Medina and he had seated Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) behind him.

(Sharh al-Zurqani ala al-Mawahib al-Laduniyyah, Vol. 2 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 1996], p. 157)

The Holy Prophet (sa) Arrives in Medina

Regarding the Holy Prophet (sa) entering Medina, Hazrat Anasra bin Malik has narrated an account in Sahih al-Bukhari as follows:

“The Messenger (sa) of Allah came to Medina and stayed in the upper part of Medina for 14 nights with a tribe called Banu Amr bin Auf. He then sent for the chiefs of Banu al-Najjar, who came armed with their swords. I remember this incident as if I can see the Holy Prophet (sa) riding his camel before my very eyes and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was riding behind him and the chiefs of Banu al-Najjar were around him till he dismounted in the courtyard of Abu Ayyub.”

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Salah, Bab hal Tunbashu Qubur Mushriki al-Jahiliyyah, Hadith 428)

Talking about this incident, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) writes:

“After a stay of more than 10 days in Quba, on Friday, the Holy Prophet (sa) set out for the heart of the city. A large party from among the Ansar and Muhajirin accompanied the Holy Prophet (sa). The Holy Prophet (sa) was riding a camel, and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was behind him. Slowly but surely, this caravan began to advance towards the city. The time for Friday prayers arrived en route. The Holy Prophet (sa) stopped in the neighbourhood of the Banu Salim bin Auf. He delivered a sermon to his Companions, and led the Friday Prayer. Historians write that, although the Friday Prayer had already begun, this was the first Friday prayer which the Holy Prophet (sa) led himself and thereafter the formal practise of the Friday Prayer began.” From this narration it also suggests that the mosque was built later.

“After completing the Friday Prayers, the caravan of the Holy Prophet (sa) continued to slowly proceed further. When the Holy Prophet (sa) would pass by the homes of Muslims, in the fervour of their love they would move forward and say, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! This is our home. Our wealth and lives are at your behest. We also possess means of protection. Please stay with us.’ The Holy Prophet (sa) would supplicate for their prosperity and slowly moved towards the city. In the fervour of their happiness, the Muslim ladies and girls climbed the roofs of their homes and began singing:

طَلَعَ‭ ‬الْبَدَرُ‭ ‬عَلَيْنَا‬‬ مِنْ‭ ‬ثَنِيَّاتِ‭ ‬الْوَدَاعِ‬‬ وَجَبَ‭ ‬الشُّكْرُ‭ ‬عَلَيْنَا‬‬ مَا‭ ‬دَعَى‭ ‬لِلہ ‬دَاعِ‬‬

“‘Today, the full moon has risen upon us from the valleys of Mount Wada‘; For this reason, gratitude to Allah has become forever obligatory upon us.’

“The Muslim children ran about in the streets and alleys of Medina singing, ‘Muhammad (sa) has arrived. The Messenger (sa) of Allah has arrived.’ To express their happiness upon the arrival of the Holy Prophet (sa), the Abyssinian slaves of Medina would move about demonstrating their feats of swordsmanship.

“When the Holy Prophet (sa) entered the city, every individual desired that the Holy Prophet (sa) stay with them. Each and every person would advance to offer their services. The Holy Prophet (sa) would respond lovingly to everyone, and move forward until his she-camel reached the neighbourhood of the Banu Najjar. At this place, the people of Banu Najjar stood in rows, decorated with arms to welcome the Holy Prophet (sa). The girls of this tribe were reciting the following couplet whilst beating their drums:

نَحْنُ‭ ‬جَوَارٍ‭ ‬مِنْ‭ ‬بَنِيْ‭ ‬نَجَّارِ‬‬‬‬ يَا‭ ‬حَبَّذَا‭ ‬مُحَمَّدٌ‭ ‬مِنْ‭ ‬جَارِ‬‬‬‬

“‘We are girls of the Banu Najjar; How fortunate are we that Muhammad (sa), the Messenger of Allah, has come to stay in our neighbourhood.’”

(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), p. 266-267)

What the Holy Prophet (sa) did after arriving in Medina

With regard to the Holy Prophet (sa) calling over his family and the family of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) to Medina, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) writes:

“A short while after arriving in Medina, the Holy Prophet (sa) sent his freed slave, Zaidra, to Mecca to bring his family and relatives. The Meccans had been overwhelmed by the sudden and well-planned departure of the Holy Prophet (sa) and his followers and so, for some time they stopped their cruelty to the Muslims. Owing to this, when the Prophet’s (sa) family and the family of Abu Bakr (ra) left Mecca they raised no objections. The two families reached Medina safe and sound. In the meantime, the Holy Prophet (sa) laid the foundations of a mosque on the site he had bought. After this, he built houses for himself and for his Companions.”

(Dibachah Tafsir-ul-Quran, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 20, p. 230)

After migrating to Medina, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) stayed in Sun‘a with Hazrat Khubaib bin Isaf. Sun‘a was the name of a place on the outskirts of Medina, which was approximately two miles from Masjid Nabawi. Hazrat Khubaib belonged to the Banu Harith bin Khazraj tribe. In one narration, it is mentioned that Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) stayed with Hazrat Kharijah bin Zaid.

(Ibn Hisham, Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah, Bab Hijrat al-Rasul (sa) [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2001], p. 348)

According to some narrations, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) built his house and clothes mill in Sun‘a and began trading from there.

(Maqalat Sirat, Vol. 3, p. 131, Maktabah Islamiyyah, Lahore, 2016)

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)

Bonds of Brotherhood in Medina

There are a few narrations about the bond of brotherhood established with Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra). In one narration, [it is recorded] that the Holy Prophet (sa) established a bond of brotherhood between Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and Hazrat Kharijah bin Zaid (ra).

(Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah, Vol. 2, Kharijah bin Zaid [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi, 2005], p. 190)

In another narration, it is recorded that the Holy Prophet (sa) formed a bond of brotherhood between Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and Hazrat Umar (ra).

(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)

The bond of brotherhood established with Hazrat Umar (ra) took place in Mecca. The narration regarding this states that the bond of brotherhood established with Hazrat Umar (ra) was formed in Mecca.

Allamah Ibn Asakir writes:

“The Holy Prophet (sa) established a bond of brotherhood between Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra) and Hazrat Umar (ra) bin Khattab in Mecca. After migrating to Medina, all such bonds of brotherhood were annulled with the exception of two; one was the bond of brotherhood between the Holy Prophet (sa) himself and Hazrat Ali (ra), and the other was between Hazrat Hamzahra and Hazrat Zaid bin Harithah (ra).”

(Ibn ‘Asakir, Tarikh Dimashq al-Kabir, Vol. 16, Abdullah bin Uthman bin Quhafah [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Ihya’ al-Turah al-‘Arabi, 2001], p. 32)

With respect to when these bonds of brotherhood were formed, historical accounts state that these bonds were established on two occasions. Allama Qastallani, who wrote a commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, writes:

“Bonds of brotherhood were established on two occasions. The first time the Muslims were joined in bonds was in Mecca before the migration – they were between Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and Hazrat Umar (ra), Hazrat Hamza (ra) and Hazrat Zaid (ra) bin Haritha, Hazrat Uthman (ra) and Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf, Hazrat Zubair (ra) and Hazrat Abdullah (ra) bin Mas‘ud, and Hazrat Ali (ra) and the Holy Prophet (sa) himself. Thereafter, when the Holy Prophet (sa) migrated to Medina, he established bonds of brotherhood between the Muhajirin and the Ansar in the house of Hazrat Anas bin Malik (ra).”

Ibn Saad writes, “The Holy Prophet (sa) joined 100 Companions (ra) in bonds of brotherhood.”

In other words, these were formed between 50 Muhajirin and 50 Ansar.

(Irshad al-Sari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 7, p. 133, Hadith 3937, Dar al-Fikr, 2010)

Fever In Medina

On one occasion, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and some of the Companions (ra) fell ill in Medina. There is a narration regarding this from Hazrat Aisha (ra) in which she states:

“When the Holy Prophet (sa) arrived in Medina, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and Hazrat Bilal (ra) developed a fever. I visited both of them and asked, ‘Father, how do you feel? And Bilal, how do you feel?’”

Hazrat Aisha (ra) further relates:

“Whenever Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) had a fever, he would recite the following couplet:

كُلُّ‭ ‬امْرِئٍ‭ ‬مُصَبَّحٌ‭ ‬فِيْ‭ ‬أَهْلِهِ‬‬‬‬ وَالْمَوْتُ‭ ‬أَدْنَى‭ ‬مِنْ‭ ‬شِرَاكِ‭ ‬نَعْلِهِ‬‬‬‬

“‘Whenever a person wakes up in their home, he receives the greeting of peace, though he is in a state where death is nearer to him than the laces of his shoes.’

When Hazrat Bilal’s (ra) fever would subside, he would cry loudly and read some couplets in which he would mention the neighbourhoods of Mecca and remember it.”

Hazrat Aisha (ra) narrates:

“I went to the Holy Prophet (sa) and related everything to him, i.e. what Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and Hazrat Bilal (ra) had said. Upon this, the Holy Prophet (sa) prayed, ‘O Allah! Make Medina just as beloved to us as Mecca, or even more than that and make it a place which is conducive to our health. O Allah! Bestow Your blessings in our saa‘ and our mudd.” Mudd and saa‘ are units of measurement, “and send its illness towards Juhfa.’” Juhfa is a place situated 82 miles from Mecca in the direction of Medina.

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Manaqib al-Ansar, Bab Maqdam al-Nabi (sa) wa Ashabih al-Medina, Hadith 3926) (Sharh al-Zurqani ala al-Mawahib al-Laduniyyah, Vol. 2 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 1996], p. 172)