Arrival at Madinah and the First Friday Prayer — Seal of the Prophets Vol. 2
Introduction
In this discourse from The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2), Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) details the historical events and scholarly insights surrounding Arrival at Madinah and the First Friday Prayer.
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: I – Early Establishment of Madinah and Foundation of the Islamic Government
Pages: Book pp. 8–11 (PDF pp. 32–35)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: [Arrival in Quba’ – 20 September 622 A.D.] | Next: [Residence at the Home of Abu Ayyub] »
Historical Account
The Holy Prophetsa was perhaps still in Qubā’ when the Muslims of Madīnah began to discuss whose home the Holy Prophetsa would stay at. Every family desired the honour of hosting the Holy Prophetsa. When the Holy Prophetsa heard of this disagreement, he said, “I will stay with the maternal relations of ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib, the Banū Najjār.” This was a very wise decision of the Holy Prophetsa, whereby the possibility of unbecoming emotions of enmity arising amongst the various tribes was prevented. Everyone was satisfied with this decision of the Holy Prophetsa. Although everyone was equivalent in faith and sincerity, the Banū Najjār definitely possessed the additional distinction that Salamah, the mother of ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib, who was the paternal grandfather of the Holy Prophetsa, was from this family. After a stay of more than ten days in Qubā’, on Friday, the Holy Prophetsa set out for the heart of the city. A large party from among the Anṣār and Muhājirīn accompanied the Holy Prophetsa. The Holy Prophetsa was riding a camel, and Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakrra was behind him. Slowly but surely, this caravan slowly began to advance towards the city. The time for Friday prayers arrived en-route. The Holy Prophetsa stopped in the neighborhood of the Banū Sālim bin ‘Auf. He delivered a sermon to his Companions, and led the Friday Prayer. Historians write that, although the Friday Prayer had already begun, this was the first prayer service which the Holy Prophetsa led himself. After this, the Friday Prayer service formally began. In actuality, Friday is an ‘Īd for the Ṣalāt, just as ‘Īdul-Fiṭr is the ‘Īd for the fasting of Ramaḍān, and ‘Īdul-Aḍḥā is the ‘Īd for Ḥajj. It is for this reason that the Friday Prayer has been given
[Ṣaḥīḥu Muslim, Kitābuz-Zuhdi War-Raqā’iq, Bābu Fī Ḥadīthil-Hijrah, Ḥadīth No. 7522]
[Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābu Manāqibil-Anṣār, Bābu Hijratin-Nabiyyisa Wa Aṣḥābihī Ilal-Madīnah, Ḥadīth No. 3906]
[Sunanu Abī Dāwūd, Kitābul-Jumu‘ati, Bābul-Jumu‘ati Fil-Qura, Ḥadīth No. 1069]
[The ninth month of the Islamic Calendar [Publishers]]
great significance in the Islāmic Sharī‘at. In this service, the Imām delivers a sermon in which matters of current relevance are discussed. The congregation is exhorted with regards to faith and good deeds, and after this, two Rak‘āt of obligatory prayer are offered. The Holy Prophetsa would also instruct that on Friday, every Muslim should, as much as possible: bathe, wear clean clothes, use fragrance, and reach the mosque before the sermon begins. In remembrance, a mosque named Masjidul-Jumu‘ah has now been built at the place where the Holy Prophetsa led this first Friday Prayer service.
[Religious Law [Publishers]]
[The plural of Rak‘at, which is a single cycle or unit in prayer [Publishers]]
After completing the Friday Prayers, the caravan of the Holy Prophetsa continued to slowly proceed further. When the Holy Prophetsa would pass by the homes of Muslims, in the fervour of their love they would move forward and say, “O Messenger of Allāh! This is our home. Our wealth and lives are at your behest. We also possess means of protection. Please stay with us.” The Holy Prophetsa would supplicate for their prosperity and slowly moved towards the city. In the fervour of their happiness, the Muslim ladies and girls climbed the roofs of their homes and began singing:
ْ طَ لَعَ البَدْرُ عَ لَیْنَا مِنْ ثَنِیَّاتِ الْوَدَاع
ْ وَجَ بَ الشُّ كْ رُ عَ لَیْنَا مَ ا دَعَ ا لِلّٰهِ دَاع
“Today, the full moon has risen upon us from the valleys of Mount Wadā‘;3 For this reason, gratitude to Allāh has become forever obligatory upon us.”
[Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 2, p. 165, Khātimatu Fī Waqā’i‘i Mutafarriqatin Ḥaṣalat Fil-Hijrati….., Dārul-Kutubil- ‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)]
The Muslim children ran about in the streets and alleys of Madīnah singing, “Muḥammadsa has arrived. The Messenger of Allāh has arrived.” To express their happiness upon the arrival of the Holy Prophetsa, the Abyssinian slaves of Madīnah would move about demonstrating their feats of swordsmanship. When the Holy Prophetsa entered the city, every individual desired that the Holy Prophetsa stay with him. Each and every person would advance to offer his services. The Holy Prophetsa would respond lovingly to everyone, and move forward until his she-camel reached the neighborhood of the Banū Najjār. At
this place, the people of Banū Najjār stood in rows, decorated with arms to welcome the Holy Prophetsa. The girls of this tribe were reciting the following couplet whilst beating their drums:
ِنَحْ نُ جَ وَارٍ مِنْ بَنِی نَجَّ ارِ یَا حَ بَّذَا مُحَ مَّداً مِنْ جَ ار
“We are girls of the Banū Najjār; How fortunate are we that Muḥammadsa, the Messenger of Allāh, has come to stay in our neighbourhood.”
When the Holy Prophetsa reached the Banū Najjār, the question once again posed itself as to which person the Holy Prophetsa would stay with. Every individual of the tribe was desirous that he be the one to receive this honour. As a matter of fact, in the fervour of their love, some would even take hold of the reins of the camel belonging to the Holy Prophetsa. Upon seeing this, the Holy Prophetsa said, “Leave my camel, for at this time, it has been divinely inspired.” In other words, wherever Allāh so desired it would sit down itself; and upon saying this, the Holy Prophetsa also released its reins. The camel gracefully advanced and sat down when it reached the place where, later, the Masjid-e- Nabawī, and living quarters of the Holy Prophetsa, were built. At the time, this was an uncultivated plot of land, which was the property of two children from Madīnah. Immediately, however, it stood up and began to move forward; but after a few steps, it once again returned to its initial place of resting, and sat down. The Holy Prophetsa stated:
ُھٰذا اِنْ شَ اءَ اللّٰهُ الْمَنْزِل
“It seems as if the Will of Allāh desires that this be our place of residence.”
[Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābu Manāqibil-Anṣār, Bābu Hijratin-Nabiyyisa Wa Aṣḥābihī Ilal-Madīnah, Ḥadīth No. 3906 – Note: Bukhārī has not mentioned the account of the camel in such detail. However, it has mentioned that the camel sat down by itself where the mosque was later built, upon which the Holy Prophetsa stated, ‘This is our residence.’ The remaining details are derived from books of Sīrat.]
After this, the Holy Prophetsa supplicated to Allāh and dismounted from his camel. Then the Holy Prophetsa inquired as to whose home was closest from that place. Abū Ayyūb Anṣārīra rushed forward and said, “O Messenger of Allāh! It is mine, and this is the entrance to my home. You are most welcome.” The Holy
Prophetsa said, “Alright, then go and prepare a place for me to stay.”
[Ṣaḥīḥu Muslim * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Al-Bidāyatu Wan-Nihāyath, By Abul-Fidā’ Ḥāfiẓ Ibnu Kathīr Ad-Dimashqī, Volume 3, p. 210, Sanatu 1 Hijri, Faṣlun Fī Dukhūlihī ‘Alaihis-Salāmul-Madīnata Wa Ainastaqarra….., Dārul-Kutubil- ‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) [Publishers]]
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2)
Section: I – Early Establishment of Madinah and Foundation of the Islamic Government | Navigation: « Previous: [Arrival in Quba’ – 20 September 622 A.D.] | Next: [Residence at the Home of Abu Ayyub] »