Life and Teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
2. The Life of the Prophet Muhammad
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the two became even more powerful than a blood relationship. The
Ansari gave his Makkan brother half of everything he possessed—
house, land, money and other belongings.
THE PROPHET’S MOSQUE
The next most important task for the Prophet was to build a
mosque. This mosque was built on the land he had bought from
the orphans. It had mud walls and a roof of palm leaves. Huts were
built adjacent to the mosque for the Prophet’s family.
A platform with a thatched roof was built in one corner of the
mosque. Poor people who had no home or family lived here. They
spent their time in worship and prayer. They were fed by those
Muslims who could afford to do so. They also sometimes earned
their living by collecting wood from the jungle and selling it in the
market. These people came to be known as
Ashabus-Safa
, people
of the bench. Abu Hurayrah, also one of
Ashabus-Safa
, and the
most constant attendant of the Prophet, related more traditions of
the sayings and doings of the Prophet than any other.
Yathrib was inhabited mostly by the tribes of Aws and Khazraj.
Both tribes rapidly entered the fold of Islam. Some Jewish tribes
also lived in the city. They were rich, owned orchards and were
very powerful.
Now the Prophet turned his attention to the important task of
establishing friendly relations with various tribes. The Banu
Qaynuqa, Banu Nazir, Banu Qurayza, the Jewish tribes, were
