is called ‘Suffah’. The blessed companions رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُم who did not have a home etc., used to sleep and stay in this and the same very Companions were called the ‘Ashaab-e-Suffah’. (Madarij-un-Nubuwwah, vol. 2, pp. 68; Al-Mawahib-ul-Ladunniyyah; Az Sharh Zurqaani, vol. 2, pp. 186)

They are those sacred personalities whom Allah Almighty protected from the decor and luxuries of this world. When the Ashaab-e-Suffah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُم desired for this world, then the following Ayah was revealed:

وَ لَوْ بَسَطَ اللّٰهُ الرِّزْقَ لِعِبَادِهٖ لَبَغَوْا فِی الْاَرْضِ

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: And had Allah increased the sustenance for all of His bondsmen, so they would have definitely caused turmoil in the earth.

(Part 25, Surah Ash-Shoora, Ayah 27)

(Az-Zuhd La-Bin Mubarak, pp. 194, Hadees 554)

Sayyiduna Haafiz Abu Nu’aym Ahmad Bin Abdullah Asfahani رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه states: ‘Allah Almighty kept this world away from the Ashaab-e-Suffah in order to shower grace upon them and to protect them from disobedience. They remained safe from being narrow-hearted in relation to fulfilling the commands of Allah Almighty and refrained from the worldly matters. Neither did the worldly wealth dishonour them and nor did the social circumstances bring any change in their state.’ Let’s listen to the dignity of Ashaab-e-Suffah in the light of the blessed Ahadees.

Compassion of the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم upon Ashaab-e-Suffah

Sayyiduna Abdul Rahman Bin Abi Bakr رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُمَا narrates that those living in Suffah were destitute people. And Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated: ‘The one who has food for two people should take the third one with him, and the one who has food for four people should take the fifth or sixth one with him.’ Or what he has stated. Then, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ took three people with him and Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم took ten people with him. (Sahih Bukhari, pp. 291, Hadees 3581)