Hosting the Holy Prophet (sa) (Hazrat Musleh Mau'd's (ra) Narration)
Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) has also narrated this incident. Sometimes, there are certain additional details mentioned which have not been heard before, therefore I shall quote the incident in his words as well. Although the incident is more or less the same, however Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) has his own unique style of narration. He writes:
“While the Holy Prophet (sa) was in Medina, everybody longed to have the honour of being his host. As his camel passed through the streets, families would line up to receive the Messenger (sa) of Allah. With one voice, they would say, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! Here we are with our homes, our property and our lives to receive you and stand ready to protect to you. Come and live with us.’ Many would show greater zeal, and would go forward and hold the reins of the camel and insist on the Prophet’s dismounting in front of their doors and entering their houses. Politely the Holy Prophet (sa) would refuse saying, ‘Leave my camel alone. She is under the command of God; she will stop where God wants her to stop.’
“Ultimately it stopped on a site which belonged to orphans of the Banu Najjar tribe. The Holy Prophet (sa) dismounted and said, ‘It seems that this is where God wants us to stop.’ Thereafter, the Holy Prophet (sa) enquired as to who the land belonged to. The guardian of the orphans came forward and informed the Holy Prophet (sa) and then offered the site for the use of the Holy Prophet (sa). The Holy Prophet (sa) replied that he would not accept the offer unless he were allowed to pay. A price was settled and the Holy Prophet (sa) decided to build a mosque and some houses on it. After this, the Holy Prophet (sa) asked who lived nearest to the site. Abu Ayub Ansari (ra) came forward and said that his house was the nearest and that his services were at the Holy Prophet’s (sa) disposal. The Holy Prophet (sa) asked him to prepare a room in his house for him. Abu Ayub’s (ra) house was double-storeyed. He offered to let the Holy Prophet (sa) have the upper storey. But the Holy Prophet (sa) preferred to have the lower storey for the convenience of his visitors.”
Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) further writes: “The devotion which the people of Medina had for the Holy Prophet (sa) showed itself again. Abu Ayub (ra) agreed to let the Holy Prophet (sa) have the lower storey, but he and his wife were unable to sleep the entire night in the thought that the Holy Prophet (sa) was residing beneath them. He and his wife thought it discourteous to do so. (This was an expression of their deep love.) At night, a pale of water was accidentally broken and water flowed on the floor. Abu Ayub (ra), fearing lest some water should drip through to the room occupied by the Holy Prophet (sa), took his quilt and with it, dried up the water before any could drip through. In the morning, he presented himself before the Holy Prophet (sa) and narrated the events of the night before, upon hearing this, the Holy Prophet (sa) agreed to occupy the upper storey. Abu Ayub (ra) would prepare the meals daily and present it to the Holy Prophet (sa). Abu Ayub (ra) and his family would then eat whatever remained from it. After a few days, the other members of the Ansar insisted in having a share in serving the Holy Prophet (sa). Until the Holy Prophet (sa) settled in his own house and made his own arrangements, the Muslims of Medina would take turns in presenting their services to the Holy Prophet (sa).”
(Dibachah Tafsir al-Quran, Anwar al-Ulum, Vol. 20, pp. 228, 229)