Hunger, thirst, dejection, travelling, internal disloyalties, external enemies, being distanced from their homes and spending many days in hunger and thirst are a few things that they faced frequently. In conclusion, there were many difficulties, but the noble Sahabah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم persistently faced them all and did not leave the servitude of the King of Madinah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. They did not leave seeking religious knowledge or serving or spreading the religion.

Who are the Ashab-us-Suffah?

Those noble Sahabah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم who would only remain in the service of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in order to learn the religion are called the Ashab-us-Suffah. There was a terrace by Masjid-un-Nabawi on which (at various occasions) approximately 400 to 500 poor migrants would sit, they are called the Ashab-us-Suffah. They neither had a house nor any worldly provisions, nor any employment or trade, the state of their destitution was such that 70 of them did not even have a cloth to cover their Satr. Their number would constantly rise and fall. If one would arrive in Madinah-tul-Munawwarah without having any acquaintances, then he too would join the Ashab-us-Suffah. (Tafseer-e-Na’eemi, vol. 3, p. 132, selected)

Starvation of Ashab-us-Suffah

This is that sanctified group of the noble Sahabah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم who would solely remain in Masjid-un-Nabawi for learning Islamic knowledge, independent of any household, family, children or worry about income. They would endure hunger and thirst, face many difficulties and starvation but would not stop seeking Islamic knowledge. Many narrations have mentioned that these noble individuals would spend many days without eating or drinking.

Let us hear regarding the sacrifices and starvation of the Ashab-us-Suffah:

1.   Sayyiduna Fadalah Bin 'Ubayd رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ says: When the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would lead the people in Salah, some noble Sahabah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم would collapse during the Salah when standing due to the intensity of hunger they were the Ashab-us-Suffah such that some people would say: 'They are mad.’ So when the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would finish the Salah, he would turn to them and say: '(O Ashab-us-Suffah!) If you knew what (reward) there is for you in the court of Allah