Life and Teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
2. The Life of the Prophet Muhammad
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He then bought this land to build a mosque and some houses
on it. After settling this matter, the Prophet asked who lived
nearest to the site. Abu Ayyub Ansari said that his house was the
nearest and requested the Prophet to be his guest. The Prophet
stayed in his house for about seven months. In the meantime, his
house was built.
From the day the Prophet came to Yathrib, it came to be called
Madinatun-Nabi or “The City of the Prophet.”
The Prophet entered Yathrib on the 17 September 622. This
year was later designated by Caliph Umar as the first year of the
Islamic era, for this event was considered to be the most important
in the history of Islam.
BROTHERHOOD OF ISLAM
The first problem faced by the Prophet was that of the Makkan
refugees. They had neither homes nor money. Most of them had
been well to do in Makkah, but they had left everything there. So the
first important thing for the Prophet was to settle them in their new
surroundings.
The solution to this problem was found in the concept of
brotherhood in Islam. The Prophet collected the Muslims and
suggested that one Ansari (Madinan) Muslim and one refugee
Makkan Muslim should become linked together as two brothers.
They immediately accepted the suggestion of the Prophet. Each
Ansari took one Makkan Muslim as his brother. This bond between