Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub Ansari

When the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  completed migration and arrived in Madinah, a large number of his ardent devotees were along with him. As the blessed ride of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  would proceed ahead, the Ansaar would hold the rein of the she-camel with extreme joy and delight and say, ‘Ya Rasoolallah صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ ! Bless us with the privilege of your arrival in our house.’ The Rasool of Rahmah صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  would say to everyone, ‘Leave its way. My she-camel will sit where Allah Almighty wants it to sit.’ Finally, the she-camel sat in front of a house. Owner of the house rushed forward, took the provisions of the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  and took them to his house. The Noble Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  stayed there for seven months. When Masjid-un-Nabawi and rooms in its surroundings were built, then the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  moved into those rooms along with the blessed Ummahat-ul-Mu`mineen (mothers of the believers) رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُنَّ. (Tabqat Ibn Sa’d, vol. 1, pp. 183; summarized; Seerat Ibn Hishaam, pp. 198-199; summarized)

Dear Islamic brothers! The first fortunate companion to attain the privilege of hosting the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  in Madinah Munawwarah was Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub Ansari رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ .

Real name

His real name was Khalid Bin Zayd Bin Kaleeb, whereas his patronymic was Abu Ayyub. He رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  was also among those approximately seventy fortunate companions who took the allegiance at the blessed hands of the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  in the valley of ‘Uqbah before the migration. (Tabqat Ibn Sa’d, vol. 3, pp. 368-369)

Did not let water go down

He رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  would display immense level of reverence, respect, veneration and loyalty for the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  through his every action and saying. That is the reason why he initially presented the first floor to the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ ; but keeping in mind the ease for the visitors, he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  chose the ground floor. Once, the earthen water-pot broke on the first floor. He رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  dried up all the water using his quilt immediately. The only quilt available in the house had now become wet. (He faced extreme cold the entire night) but did not accept the fact that water flows down on the ground floor and harms the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  in any way. (Seerat Ibn Hishaam, pp. 199)

May I not incur disrespect

One night, a thought came in his mind that the Noble Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  is residing on the ground floor and we are on the first floor! As soon as this thought came in his mind, he and his blessed wife confined themselves to a corner (out of reverence) and spent the entire night in the same state. In the morning, they presented themselves in the blessed court of the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  and said with a heavy heart while crying, ‘We fear that due to living on the floor above you, lest any dust particle from our feet falls on your blessed body, and we become among the insolents.’ When the Rasool of Rahmah صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  witnessed their devotion and emotional state, he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  went on the first floor. (Dalaail-un-Nubuwwah lil-Bayhaqi, vol. 2, pp. 501; Sahih Muslim, pp. 874, Hadees 5358)

They would reap blessings from the utensils

He رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  would send food for the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ . When the utensils would come back, he would ask that where did the blessed fingers of the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  touch this utensil from? Then to attain blessings, he رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  would pick up the morsel from where the blessed fingerprints were engraved and eat the food. (Musnad Ahmad, vol. 9, pp. 135, Hadees 23576)

Du’a of the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ

Once, he رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  patrolled the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  for the entire night. In the morning, he received the Du’a of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  in the following manner, ‘O Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Keep Abu Ayyub under Your protection the way he spent night protecting me.’ (Seerat Ibn Hishaam, pp. 442)

Reverence of the blessed hair of the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ

Once, the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  was performing the Sa’ee of Safa and Marwah. In the meanwhile, one hair of the blessed beard separated and started falling down. He رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  rushed forward and took the blessed hair in his hands before it reached the ground. The Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  gave him the Du’a, ‘May Allah Almighty remove every disliked thing from you.’ (Al-Mu’jam-ul-Kabeer, vol. 4, pp. 172, Hadees 4048)

Presenting himself at the blessed Raudah of the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ

Once he came and placed his face at the blessed Raudah of the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ . The ruler Marwan saw him and said, ‘What are you doing?’ He رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  replied, ‘I have not come to a brick or a rock. I have come in the blessed court of the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ .’ (Musnad Ahmad, vol. 9, pp. 148, Hadees 23646)

Different aspects of the blessed life

After studying the Seerah of Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub Ansari رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ , it becomes apparent that he رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  was righteous, ascetic, brave, extremely forbearing and perseverant, and filled with the passion of serving Islam. (A’laam lil-Zarkali, vol. 2, pp. 295)

When Sayyiduna ‘Usman-e-Ghani رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  was martyred, he was serving as the Imam of Masjid-un-Nabawi in those days. (At-Tamheed li Ibn ‘Abdul Barr, vol. 4, pp. 410, Taht-al-Hadees: 2321)

He رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  was appointed as the governor of Madinah in the early days of the caliphate of Sayyiduna ‘Ali-ul-Murtada. (Al-Istee’aab, vol. 1, pp. 244)

Blessed demise

In his last days, when he رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  fell severely ill, he said that when I pass away, bury my corpse near the wall of the fortress. Therefore, in 51 Hijri, he was laid to rest near the wall of the fortress of Constantinople. Undoubtedly, it was a result of the Du’a of the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  that he remained safe from troubles and calamities all his life. Moreover, even today, the blessed shrine of Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub Ansari رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  is still present there under the supervision of the Turkish government with the same grandeur and majesty that soothes the eyes of its visitors. (Karamaat Sahabah, pp. 182)

It rained due to his blessings [Wasilah]

At the time of famine, people come to his grave and ask for rain. Due to his blessings, Allah Almighty grants rain to the grief stricken people. (Tabqat Ibn Sa’d, vol. 3, pp. 370)

In the month of Zul-Qa’da-til-Haraam 6 AH, the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  departed for Makkah Mukarramah زَادَھَـا الـلّٰـهُ شَـرَفًـا وَّ تَـعـظِیـمًا along with one thousand and four hundred blessed companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم for the purpose of performing ‘Umrah. On the way, they received the news that the disbelievers of Makkah were prepared to fight a war against the Muslims and would not let them enter Makkah Mukarramah. Therefore, the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  stayed at Hudaybiyah and sent Sayyiduna ‘Usman-e-Ghani رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  to Makkah Mukarramah with the message that the Muslims were coming just to perform ‘Umrah, and not to fight any war. But the disbelievers of Makkah detained Sayyiduna ‘Usman-e-Ghani رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  and spread the news of his martyrdom. When informed about it, the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ  made the Muslims pledge allegiance to him under an acacia tree in order to take revenge on the disbelievers. This pledge of allegiance is known as the ‘Bayt-e-Ridwan’.

Respect of Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ shown by blessed companions

When the disbelievers of Makkah became aware of this pledge of allegiance, they considered it appropriate to make reconciliation for their safety. Therefore, they sent five representatives one after another for talks. The second representative among them was ‘Urwah Bin Mas’ood who had not yet embraced Islam. During the conversation, he observed great devotion and affection of blessed companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم for the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ . Having returned to the disbelievers of Makkah, he told them about it in these words: O the group of Quraysh! I have visited the royal courts of many great and powerful emperors and kings including Qaysar, Kisra and Najaashi. But I have not seen any king being revered and honoured by his people as much as Muhammad (صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ ) is revered and honoured by his companions (رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم). When he (صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ ) makes Wudu, his companions try very hard to get the water of Wudu in such a way that it looked as if they would fight against each other. When he (صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ ) uses water to rinse his blessed mouth or in his blessed nose, so his companions (رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم) take this water in their hands and rub it on their faces and body. When any of his hair is removed from his blessed body, so his companions (رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم) rush to get it. When he (صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ ) commands them to do something, they carry it out immediately. By God! I have seen the army that will kill all of you in the battlefield, dominating you. (Ash-Shifa, vol. 2, pp. 69; Madarij-un-Nubuwwah, vol. 2, pp. 207; summarized)