Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari (RA)
Arrival of the Prophet in Madinah:
Staying at the House of Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari:
When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ arrived in Madinah, he decided to stay at the house of Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ decided to stay at his house because it was a big house with two stories and only Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari and his wife lived in the house.
The Prophet did not want to cause inconvenience to anybody so he decided to stay here because it was the most convenient place to stay at the time
Abu Ayyub’s Honour for the Prophet:
Abu Ayyub was very honoured at the privilege to host the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
He requested for the Prophet to take the upper floor and informed the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that he was more honourable and more deserving to stay at a higher position.
The Prophet ﷺ replied: I am a person who is constantly meeting people so it would be easier and more convenient for me to stay on the ground floor.
After hearing this, Abu Ayyub agreed with this suggestion.
Care and Respect of Abu Ayyub and His Wife:
Abu Ayyub and his wife would be very careful in the night as they did not want to disturb and wake up the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
The Incident of the Spilled Water:
One night, they dropped a jug of water and they spent the whole night drying the area in the fear of even a single drop of water waking up the Prophet.
Request to the Prophet:
Abu Ayyub then told the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about this the next morning and advised the Prophet to stay on the upper floor. The Prophet ﷺ then agreed to this request.
Duration of the Prophet’s Stay:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stayed in Abu Ayyub’s house for almost seven months until his mosque in Quba was completed.
Masjid Quba is described in the Quran as the ‘mosque built on the foundation of Taqwa.’ (Quran, 9:108)
Deep Love For the Prophet:
Abu Ayyub continued to love the Prophet and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also loved him very much.
Hunger of the Prophet, Abu Bakr and Umar:
Abu Bakr once left his house in the heat of the midday sun and went to the mosque. Umar ibn al-Khattab asked him: Abu Bakr, what has brought you out at this hour? He replied that he had left his house because he was hungry and Umar told him that he had left his house for the same reason.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ then came to them and asked: What has brought the two of you out at this hour? They informed him about their reason and the Prophet replied: By Him in Whose hands is my life, only hunger has caused me to come out also, but come with me.
The Visit tp Abu Ayyub’s House:
They went to the house of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, where his wife opened the door and said: Welcome to the Prophet and whoever is with him. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asked: Where is Abu Ayyub?
Abu Ayyub was working nearby and he heard the voice of the Prophet and rushed back home and said: Welcome to the Prophet and whoever is with him. O Prophet of Allah, this is not the time that you usually come. The Prophet ﷺ replied: Yes, you are right.
Abu Ayyub would normally keep some food for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ every day but when the Prophet did not come for it by a certain time, he would give it to his family.
Preparing the Meal:
Abu Ayyub then went out and cut a cluster of dates. He also killed a young goat, cooked half and grilled the other half. and asked his wife to bake some bread.
When the food was ready, it was placed before the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Abu Bakr and Umar.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ took a piece of meat and placed it in a loaf and said to Abu Ayyub: Take this to Fatimah (his daughter), she hasn’t tasted the likes of this for days.
Gratitude and Tears of the Prophet:
After finishing the meal, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ began to cry and he said: This is a bountiful blessing about which you will be asked on the Day of Judgement. If such comes your way, say: Bismillah. And when you have finished, say: Alhamdu lillah alladhi huwa ashba’na wa an’ama ‘alayna (Praise be to Allah Who has given us enough and Who has bestowed His bounty on us) This is best.
Abu Ayyub’s Participation in the Battles:
Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari fought in all the battles the Muslims fought from the time of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to the time of Mu’awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan.
Final Campaign and the Passing of Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari:
The last campaign Abu Ayyub participated in was the one prepared by Mu’awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan at Constantinople.
Abu Ayyub, at that time, was around eighty years of age. However, his age did not stop him from joining the army for the sake of Allah.
Abu Ayyub fell ill during the battle and had to withdraw from fighting.
Mu’awiyah’s son, Yazid came to him and asked: Do you need anything, Abu Ayyub?
Abu Ayyub’s Final Advice:
Abu Ayyub replied: Convey my Salaams to the Muslim armies and say to them: Abu Ayyub urges you to penetrate deeply into the enemy territory as far as you can go, that you should carry him with you and that you should bury him under your feet at the walls of Constantinople.
After giving this advice, Abu Ayyub passed away.
The Muslim army fulfilled the desire of Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari, they fought the enemy army until they reached the walls of Constantinople, where the Muslims besieged Constantinople.
Burial of Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari:
Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari is said to have been buried in the Eyup Sultan Mosque in Istanbul.
Hadiths on Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari:
Abu Ayyub narrated: When the Messenger of Allah arrived in Madinah, he stayed in the lower part of my house. One night, some water spilled, so my wife and I quickly wiped it up with our only garment, fearing that it might fall on the Prophet. (Bukhari, Muslim)
Abu Ayyub narrated that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: it is not permissible for a Muslim to abandon his brother for more than three days, and the best of them is the one who initiates the greeting of Salam. (Bukhari, Muslim)
Abu Ayyub narrated that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: When you eat, do not wipe your hands until you have licked them or let someone else lick them. (Bukhari, Muslim)