- Makkah
- Madinah
- Taif
- Tabuk
Hazrat Abu Ayyub Ansari (RA) hosted Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in Madinah following the Hijrah (migration). When the Prophet (ﷺ) arrived in Madinah, his camel stopped and knelt at the site where the Prophet’s (ﷺ) mosque (Masjid al-Nabawi) would be built. Nearby lived Abu Ayyub Ansari (RA), a member of the Banu Najjar tribe of the Ansar (Khazraj). When the Prophet (ﷺ) inquired about the nearest house to the site, Abu Ayyub (RA) immediately offered his home. He hosted the Prophet (ﷺ) in his residence until the mosque and the adjoining chambers for the Prophet’s (ﷺ) family were completed. The honor of hosting the Prophet (ﷺ) was immense, and Abu Ayyub (RA) carried it out with utmost devotion. He would bring meals to the Prophet (ﷺ) and only after the Prophet (ﷺ) ate would he and his family eat. The Prophet (ﷺ) stayed in the upper floor of the house, but when Abu Ayyub (RA) realized he might be above the Prophet (ﷺ) in proximity, he requested to be moved to the lower floor out of respect. The Prophet (ﷺ) reassured him that being above was acceptable. Abu Ayyub (RA) later participated in many battles and was one of the last companions to pass away. He traveled to Constantinople (Istanbul) during the Muslim campaigns and was buried near its walls. His act of hosting the Prophet (ﷺ) is remembered as one of the greatest honors bestowed upon any companion. His generosity, humility, and devotion became hallmarks of the Ansar, who welcomed the Muhajirun (migrants) with unparalleled hospitality, setting a timeless example of selflessness in Islam.
