Poetry During the Construction of the Prophet's (sa) Mosque
Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) writes:
“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 bin Zurarah (ra). 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 livings quarters. This plot of land was purchased for 10 Dinar, or approximately 90 Rupees. The surface was levelled and cleared of trees, after which the construction of Masjid-e-Nabawi began. 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 worked as builders and labourers. The Holy Prophet (sa) would also participate at times. Occasionally, while lifting bricks, the Companions would recite the following couplet of Abdullah bin Rawaha Ansari (ra):
ھٰذَا الْحِمَالُ لَا حِمَالَ خَيْبَرَ
ھٰذَا اَبَرُّ رَبَّنَا وَاَطْھَرٗ
‘This burden is not the burden of Khaybar’s commercial goods, which arrive loaded on the backs of animals; Rather, O our Lord! This is the burden of virtue and purity, which we bear for Your pleasure.’ At times, the Companions would recite the following couplet of Abdullah bin Rawaha (ra):
اَللّٰھُمَّ اِنَّ الْاَجْرَ اَجْرُ الْاٰخِرَۃ
فَارْحَمِ الْاَنْصَارَ وَالْمُھَاجِرَۃ
‘O Our Allah! True reward is merely that of the hereafter. By Your Grace, send down Mercy upon the Ansar and Muhajirin.’ When the Companions would recite this couplet, at times, the Holy Prophet (sa) would also join in. In this manner, after a long period of hard work, the mosque was completed.”
(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), pp. 269-270)
