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Seerah / Madinah

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Building the Prophet's Mosque

Date
1 AH · established
Location
Madinah
People
'Ammar ibn Yasir (RA), Banu an-Najjar

Anas (RA) narrates that the land was offered by Banu an-Najjar seeking reward only from Allah, and Abu Sa'id (RA) describes the Companions carrying bricks — 'Ammar carrying two at a time — both in Sahih al-Bukhari.

As it was narrated

The story, in the words of those who were there

Read slowly. These are the Companions' own words, from the verified hadith collections.

Hadith
Hadith collection

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُخْتَارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ الْحَذَّاءُ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، قَالَ لِي ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ وَلاِبْنِهِ عَلِيٍّ انْطَلِقَا إِلَى أَبِي سَعِيدٍ فَاسْمَعَا مِنْ حَدِيثِهِ‏.‏ فَانْطَلَقْنَا فَإِذَا هُوَ فِي حَائِطٍ يُصْلِحُهُ، فَأَخَذَ رِدَاءَهُ فَاحْتَبَى، ثُمَّ أَنْشَأَ يُحَدِّثُنَا حَتَّى أَتَى ذِكْرُ بِنَاءِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَقَالَ كُنَّا نَحْمِلُ لَبِنَةً لَب…

Narrated `Ikrima:Ibn `Abbas said to me and to his son `Ali, "Go to Abu Sa`id and listen to what he narrates." So we went and found him in a garden looking after it. He picked up his Rida', wore it and sat down and started narrating till the topic of the construction of the mosque reached. He said, "We were carrying one adobe at a time while `Ammar was carrying two. The Prophet (ﷺ) saw him and started removing the dust from his body and said, "May Allah be Merciful to `Ammar. He will be inviting them (i.e. his murderers, the rebellious group) to Paradise and they will invite him to Hell-fire." `Ammar said, "I seek refuge with Allah from affliction

Sahih al-Bukhari · Hadith 447 · Prayers (Salat)
Translation: Sahih al-Bukhari — English. Hadith data: fawazahmed0/hadith-api (numbering and gradings as published there).

Grading information unavailable in source data · from a collection regarded as sahih

Open source
Hadith
Hadith collection

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ، عَنْ أَبِي التَّيَّاحِ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ يَا بَنِي النَّجَّارِ ثَامِنُونِي بِحَائِطِكُمْ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالُوا لاَ نَطْلُبُ ثَمَنَهُ إِلاَّ إِلَى اللَّهِ‏.‏

Narrated Anas:The Prophet (ﷺ) said (at the time of building the Mosque), "O Bani An-Najjar! Suggest to me a price for your garden." They replied, "We do not ask its price except from Allah

Sahih al-Bukhari · Hadith 2779 · Wills and Testaments (Wasaayaa)
Translation: Sahih al-Bukhari — English. Hadith data: fawazahmed0/hadith-api (numbering and gradings as published there).

Grading information unavailable in source data · from a collection regarded as sahih

Open source

Lessons

  • The first project of the new community was a place of worship built together.
  • The leader worked with his own hands.

Lessons are editorial reflections drawn from the event and its sources.

Pause for a moment

Which moment of your own life does this remind you of? Sit with it for a minute, then send salawat on the one who lived it ﷺ.

Send salawat ﷺ

Bibliography

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 2779 (Anas), 447 (Abu Sa'id) · primary source
  • Ibn Hisham, al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah (further reading)
  • Ibn Kathir, al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah (further reading)
  • Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq al-Makhtum (further reading)

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