Abu Ayyub Ansari

[Abu Tariq Hijazi]

ABU AYYUB ANSARI: THE GEM OF BANI NAJJAR
BY ABU TARIQ HIJAZI

His name shines on the horizon of Madina. He was the first who offered full hospitability to Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) when he arrived at Madina in Rabi Awwal 01 AH. Later he proved that he was not only host and warrior. He was Katib Wahi, a Hafiz Quraan, a Faqih, whose fatawa were trusted and he also served as Imam of Masjid Nabavi during the Caliphate of Uthman bin Affan. As a Mujahed he participated in all the battles like that of Badr, Ohud, Khandaq, Conquest of Makkah, Hunain, Taif, Khayber and Tabuk.

Abu Ayyub Ansari belonged to Bani Najjar tribe. This was not a new relation ship to Holy Prophet (s.a.w.). His great grand father Hashem married a lady named Salma from Banu Najjar of Madina, later he went to Shaam and died at Ghazza. Salma gave birth to a boy. Later when Thabet bin Manzar (father of Hassan bin Thabet) visited Makkah he informed Muttaleb about his brother Hashim’s marriage in Madina and the birth of a boy. Muttaleb rushed to Madina and brought his nephew. This boy was named Abdul Muttaleb, later the grand father of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.). Thus Almighty Allah attached Banu najjar with the line of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.).

It is also reported that once when Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) was a child, her mother Amina took him to Madina to see her husband Abdullah’s grave and stayed with Banu Najjar. She died on her way back to Makkah at Abwa and was buried there. Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) had some memories of the time spent in Madina with his mother.

When the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) migrated to Madina the whole city gave him a rousing reception. The people decorated in their nice dresses and arms lined up his path to the city. The ladies crowded the roof tops. The children chanted the welcoming slogans. And the young pretty girls of Madina sang the noblest song ever recited for any person in the world history. They said:

طلع البدر علينا ** من ثنيات الوداع
الشكر علينا ** ما داع لله داع وجب

أيها المبعوث فينا ** جئت بالأمر المطاع
جئت شرفت المدينة ** مرحبا يا خير داع

The full moon has risen on us
from behind Sanniyat-ul-Wida
We are duty bound to thank Allah
So long as one is in our midst who calls to Allah.
To you who has been sent to us by Allah
We present our perfect Obedience'.
O, the noble soul who honored the city
Welcome to you, the best preacher.

These beautiful words in Arabic with beautiful meanings, uttered by beautiful lips of the pretty little girls of Madina were recorded on the forehead of history and are still enchanted by thousands of Muslims in their celebrations every where in the world. (Seerat by ATH p 105)
The residents stood in the way and, one after another, urged him to stay with them. He did not disappoint anybody and said I will stay at a place when my Naaqa (she camel) sits. The camel moved for a while and then sat at an open place. He asked whose house is nearer to this place. Abu Ayyub burst with joy and rushed to him crying: This is my house, this is my house, I am here to serve you. He took the saddle and Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) followed him. Asad bin Zararah took the camel to his house. Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) stayed at Abu Ayyub's house for about seven months until The Masjid Nabavi was built on the open space where his camel had stopped. He moved to the Hujras next to the mosque and thus Abu Ayyub became his close neighbor who always served him. (This house was about 10 meters from the present Bab Baqie of the Masjid Nabavi.)*

It is reported that once Abu Bakr and Omer came out of the houses because of acute hunger at noon. Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) also joined them and they went to the house of Abu Ayyub. He was filled with joy to see the three honorable guests. He rushed to the garden and brought a cluster full of dates and later slaughtered a goat and made the feast ready by roasting it and offered it to them. They ate it and thanked Almighty Allah for His great bounties. In the mean while Prophet (s.a.w.) took a piece of meat and placed it in a loaf and said, "Abu Ayyub, take this to Fatimah. She has not tasted the like of this for days." (my eyes tear)

Abu Ayyub devoted his life and property for the sake of Islam and participated in most of the campaign during and after the life of Holy Prophet (s.a.w). He was born in around 590AD. He got three sons named Khalid, Ayyub and Mohammed and a daughter named Umrah. Their descendants are found in Egypt, India, Pakistan and Turkey.

During the rule of Amir Moaviya when a call was made for Jehad against Constantinople, he raised his sword and participated in it. Though he was one of the favorites of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) but he preferred to leave Madina Munawwarah and to fight in distant lands for the sake of Islam. During the last campaign he fell sick and instead of returning to Madina he said before his death:"Convey my salaams to the Muslim armies and say to them: 'Abu Ayyub urges you to penetrate deeply into the territory of the enemy as far as you can go, that you should carry me (my dead body) with you and that you should bury me under your feet at the walls of Constantinople."'

The Muslim army pushed back the enemy's forces in attack after attack until they reached the walls of Constantinople. And they buried him there as per his wish. Muslim force warned the enemy that no one should touch his grave. He died in 51AH (671 AD) at the battle field when he was over 80 years of age.

Ayyub Sultan in Istanbul

Abu Ayyub al Ansari al Madani was buried near the walls of Fort on the European soil. Later Ottoman Caliphs built nice tomb and the Mosque. The locality is now called Ayyub Sultan on the European part of Istanbul. Besides the main grave there are 28 more graves of Sahaba in Turkey who laid their lives for the sake of Islam on this land. Ayyub Sultan has become a sacred locality and many Ottoman Caliph were crowned at this place and later many nobles were buried near him.

This is a Hadith narrated by Abu Ayyub Ansari (May Almighty Allah award him high ranks in Paradise)
Allah's Apostle said, "It is not lawful for a man to desert his brother Muslim for more than three nights. (It is unlawful for them that) when they meet, one of them turns his face away from the other, and the other turns his face from the former, and the better of the two will be the one who greets the other first."

*(Asad Sherkoh the uncle of Salahuddin Ayyubi was also buried there.

Article completed 4.3.12