7 In Madinah
MADINAH RECEIVES THE MESSENGER (SALLALLAHU ALAIYHI WASSALLAM) OF ALLAH:
The Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah and his party continued their journey to Quba’ which is on the outskirts of Madinah. It was Monday the 12 of Rabi’ al-Awwal and this date marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
When the Ansar heard that the Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah had left Makkah they waited for him even more eagerly than people who are fasting wait for the new moon of the ‘Id. Every day after the Morning Prayer they went to the outskirts of Madinah to look for him. They stayed there until the heat of the summer sun forced them to seek shade. They would go back into their houses feeling very disappointed.
On the day that the Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah arrived, the people had just gone back into their houses. The Jews had taken note of what was going on and the first person to see him was indeed a Jew. He shouted as loudly as he could to announce to the Ansar that the Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah had arrived. Everyone went out to greet him. He and Abu Bakr, who was about the same age, were sheltering under a palm-tree. Only a few of them had seen the Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah before so most of the people in the crowd were unable to distinguish between him and Abu Bakr. Realising their confusion, Abu Bakr stood up to shade him with his cloak from the sun, thus making it clear who was the Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah.
The Muslims were overjoyed at the arrival of the Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah. It was the best thing that had ever happened to them. The women and children chanted, ‘This is the Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah who has come! This is the Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah who has come!’ In their delight, the girls of the Ansar recited:
The full moon shines down upon us from Thaniyat al-Wada’.
We must all give our thanksgiving all the while praising Allah
You whom Allah sends among us,
what you bring, we will obey
You’ve ennobled Madinah.
Welcome now! Guide us to His way!
Anas ibn Malik al-Ans a boy at that time, said, ‘I saw the Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah the day he entered Madinah. I have not seen a better or more radiant day than when he came to us in Madinah.’
The Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah spent four days at Quba’ where he established a mosque. On Friday morning, he set off again. At noon he stopped among the Banu Salim ibn Awf where he prayed the Jumu’ah. This was the first Jumu’ah in Madinah.
THE HOUSE OF ABU AYYUB AL-ANSARI:
In Madinah the Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah was greeted by people, all asking him to stay with them. They grabbed the halter of his camel but he said, ‘Let it go its own way. It is under orders.’ That happened several times. Eventually the camel stopped at the home of Banu Malik ibn an-Najjar. By herself she kneeled at a place which today marks the door of the Prophet’s mosque. At that time It was used for drying dates and belonged to two orphan boys of the Banu’n-Najjar who were the Prophet’s maternal uncles.
The Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah got off his camel. Abu Ayyub Khalid ibn Zayd quickly carried his luggage into his house and the Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah stayed with him. Abu Ayyub showed him generous hospitality and great respect. The Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah insisted on staying on the lower floor of the house although Abu Ayyub disliked occupying the top floor above him, thinking it an insult. The Prophet, however reassured him, Saying, Abu Ayyub, it is more convenient for me and those who call on me that I stay on the lower floor.’
MESSENGER(SALLALLAHU ALAIYHI WASSALLAM) OF ALLAH’S MOSQUE:
The Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah called for the two orphans who owned the date store and asked them to name a price for it, so that a mosque could be built. They said, ‘We give It to you, Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah.’ He refused to accept it as a gift, however, and insisted on paying them.
The Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah helped In the building of the mosque, carrying bricks alongside the other Muslims As he worked he recited, ‘O Allah, the true reward is the reward of the Next World, so show mercy to the Ansar and Muhajirun!’
The Muslims were happy, reciting poetry and praising Allah. Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah stayed in the house of Abu Ayyub for seven months until his mosque and the rooms for his family were ready.
The Muhajirun joined the Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah until none were left in Makkah except those in person or awaiting trial. Every house of the Ansar became Muslim.
BROTHERHOOD:
The Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah established brotherhood between the Muhajirun and the Ansar, and they were put under an obligation to assist one another. The Ansar were so eager to form a brotherhood that they had to draw lots to allocate their shares. The Ansar gave the Muhajirun authority over their homes, their furniture, their land and their animals and preferred them over themselves in every way.
An Ansari would say to a Muhajir, ‘Have whichever half of my property you want to take,’ and the Muhajir would say, ‘May Allah bless you in your family and property! Show me the market.’ From the Ansar there was great benevolence as they demonstrated their generosity to their Muslim brothers while the Muhajirun retained their self-respect.
THE PROPHET’S COVENANT:
The Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah bound together the Muhajirun and the Ansar when he made a covenant with the Jews. They were confirmed in their freedom to practise religion and in their title to their wealth. Conditions were made for them and accepted from them.
ADHAN:
When the Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah was secure in Madinah and Islam had been strengthened, the people would join him at prayer without a call. He disliked the way the Jews and Christians used horns and bells to announce their calls to prayer. Then Allah honoured the Muslims with the adhan. One of them saw the method in a dream. The Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah confirmed it and prescribed it for the Muslims. He chose Bilal ibn Rabah al-Habashi to call the adhan. He was the mu’adhdhin of the Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah and thus became the Imam of all the mu’adhdhins until the end of time.
THE HYPOCRITES:
Islam spread throughout Madinah and some of the rabbis and Jewish scholars also became Muslims. They included a learned rabbi named Abdullah ibn Salam whose acceptance of Islam annoyed other Jews. At that time the Jews were feeling anxious. They envied Islam, but at the same time they were frightened of it. Hence a group of hypocrites emerged. Their leader was Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul, whose power was not questioned before the arrival of Islam, but now his people were flocking to the new faith. He and others like him who were greedy for power became open enemies of Islam while others became secret hypocrites.
THE QIBLAH:
The Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah and the Muslims prayed towards Jerusalem for sixteen months after he came to Madinah but he wanted to turn to the Ka’bah. Muslims, as Arabs, had grown up with both love and esteem for the Ka’bah. They did not consider any other house equal to it nor any qiblah equal to the qiblah of Ibrahim and Isma’il. They all would have preferred to turn towards the Ka’bah. They found that the qiblah towards Jerusalem was an irritation, but they declared, ‘We hear and obey’ and ‘We believe it. All is from our Lord.’ They always obeyed the Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah and submitted to the commands of Allah whether or not that was what they wanted.
First Allah tested their hearts for taqwa and their submission to the command of Allah. Then He turned His Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) and the Muslims towards the Ka’bah.
Qur’an says:
‘Thus We appointed you a midmost nation that you might be witnesses to the people and that the Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) might he! a witness to you; and We did not appoint the direction you were facing, except that We might know who followed the Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) from him who turned on his heels it was a difficult thing except for those whom Allah has guided.’ (2: 143)
The Muslims turned to the Ka’bah out of obedience to Allah and His Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) and it became the qiblah of the Muslims for all time to come. Wherever they are in the world, Muslims turn their faces towards it when they pray.
THE QURAYSH ARE STILL HOSTILE:
When Islam was firmly established in Madinah, and the Quraysh knew that it was flourishing and spreading, they became hostile towards the Muslims. Allah commanded the Muslims to be steadfast and patient, saying, ‘Restrain your hands and establish the prayer.’ (4: 77)
When the Muslims were strong and secure, they were given permission to fight but were not obliged to do so. Allah said, ‘Leave is given against those whom war is made (to fight) because they were wronged. Allah is able to help them.’ (22: 39)
THE FIRST EXPEDITIONS:
The Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah began to send delegations to visit other tribes and districts. Most of the time there was no war, only skirmishes. Even this much activity worried the idol-worshippers but their anxiety encouraged the Muslims to emerge triumphant.
The Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah went on the raid of Abwa, the first he himself undertook. It was followed by other raids and expeditions.
THE FAST:
In the second year of the hijrah, fasting was made obligatory. Allah revealed, ‘O you who believe, the fast is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you – perhaps you will be God-fearing.’ (2: 183)
He says, ‘The month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was sent down to be a guidance to the people and as clear signs of the Guidance and the Discrimination. Let those of you who are present at the month last it.’ (2: 185)