WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.390 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 00:00:03.390 --> 00:00:06.389 My longing to meet them ever grows, 00:00:06.389 --> 00:00:09.189 And to their sanctuary, my heart journeys from afar. 00:00:09.189 --> 00:00:11.689 O generation that followed true guidance, 00:00:11.689 --> 00:00:14.390 Shine upon us anew. 00:00:14.390 --> 00:00:15.689 My longing to meet them— 00:00:15.689 --> 00:00:17.690 The Mawaddah Association is pleased 00:00:17.690 --> 00:00:19.690 to present to you: 00:00:19.690 --> 00:00:22.190 "Portraits from the Lives of the Companions" 00:00:22.190 --> 00:00:25.719 by 'Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 00:00:25.719 --> 00:00:28.719 may Allah have mercy on him. 00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:31.719 Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, 00:00:31.719 --> 00:00:33.840 may Allah be pleased with him. 00:00:46.020 --> 00:00:48.020 This illustrious Companion 00:00:48.020 --> 00:00:51.020 was named Khalid ibn Zayd ibn Kulayb, 00:00:51.020 --> 00:00:53.020 of the Banu al-Najjar clan. 00:00:53.020 --> 00:00:55.520 His kunyah was Abu Ayyub, 00:00:55.520 --> 00:00:58.520 and his lineage belonged to the Ansar. 00:00:58.520 --> 00:01:01.020 And who among us, the community of Muslims, 00:01:01.020 --> 00:01:04.019 does not know Abu Ayyub al-Ansari? 00:01:04.019 --> 00:01:07.019 For Allah exalted his renown across the two horizons, 00:01:07.019 --> 00:01:09.019 and elevated his stature among all mankind, 00:01:09.019 --> 00:01:13.019 when He chose his home out of all the Muslims' homes 00:01:13.019 --> 00:01:15.519 to host the Noble Prophet, 00:01:15.519 --> 00:01:18.519 when he arrived in Medina as an emigrant— 00:01:18.519 --> 00:01:21.019 and that alone is honor enough for him. 00:01:21.019 --> 00:01:24.519 The lodging of the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:01:24.519 --> 00:01:26.519 in the house of Abu Ayyub 00:01:26.519 --> 00:01:28.519 is a story sweet to recount 00:01:28.519 --> 00:01:31.019 and delightful to repeat. 00:01:31.019 --> 00:01:33.519 For when the Prophet, peace be upon him, 00:01:33.519 --> 00:01:35.519 reached Medina, 00:01:35.519 --> 00:01:37.519 the hearts of its people met him 00:01:37.519 --> 00:01:40.519 with the most generous welcome ever accorded a newcomer. 00:01:40.519 --> 00:01:43.019 Their eyes gazed eagerly toward him, 00:01:43.019 --> 00:01:46.519 expressing the longing of a lover for his beloved; 00:01:46.519 --> 00:01:48.519 they opened their hearts to him, 00:01:48.519 --> 00:01:51.019 that he might dwell in their very core, 00:01:51.019 --> 00:01:54.019 and flung wide the doors of their houses to him, 00:01:54.019 --> 00:01:57.019 that he might abide in the most cherished of dwellings. 00:01:57.019 --> 00:02:00.519 But the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:02:00.519 --> 00:02:03.519 stayed in Quba, on the outskirts of Medina, 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:05.519 for four days, 00:02:05.519 --> 00:02:08.520 during which he built his mosque—the very first mosque 00:02:08.520 --> 00:02:10.520 founded upon piety. 00:02:10.520 --> 00:02:13.520 Then he set out from it, mounted upon his she-camel. 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:16.520 The chieftains of Yathrib stood in her path, 00:02:16.520 --> 00:02:18.520 each yearning to win 00:02:18.520 --> 00:02:22.520 the honor of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, staying 00:02:22.520 --> 00:02:23.520 in his home. 00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:25.520 They would intercept the she-camel, 00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:27.520 chieftain after chieftain, 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:29.520 saying: 00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:31.520 "Dwell with us, O Messenger of Allah, 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:34.520 in numbers, wealth, and fortified protection!" 00:02:34.520 --> 00:02:37.520 But he would say to them: "Let her go, 00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:39.520 for she is under divine command." 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:42.520 And the she-camel continued toward her destination, 00:02:42.520 --> 00:02:44.520 followed by all eyes, 00:02:44.520 --> 00:02:46.520 encircled by all hearts. 00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:48.520 Whenever she passed a house, 00:02:48.520 --> 00:02:50.520 its people were grieved 00:02:50.520 --> 00:02:52.520 and overcome with despair, 00:02:52.520 --> 00:02:55.520 while hope shone bright in the souls of those ahead. 00:02:55.520 --> 00:02:59.520 The she-camel went on in this manner, 00:02:59.520 --> 00:03:01.520 with the people trailing behind her, 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:03.520 burning with eager anticipation 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:06.520 to learn who the blessed, fortunate host would be, 00:03:06.520 --> 00:03:08.520 until she reached an open 00:03:08.520 --> 00:03:11.520 lot in front of the house of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, 00:03:11.520 --> 00:03:13.520 where she knelt down. 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:16.520 Yet the Messenger, peace be upon him, 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:18.520 did not dismount. 00:03:18.520 --> 00:03:20.520 Soon she sprang up 00:03:20.520 --> 00:03:22.520 and began walking again, 00:03:22.520 --> 00:03:24.520 while the Messenger gave her slack reins. 00:03:24.520 --> 00:03:26.520 Then, before long, 00:03:26.520 --> 00:03:28.520 she turned back in her tracks 00:03:28.520 --> 00:03:30.520 and knelt down once more in her first resting place. 00:03:30.520 --> 00:03:32.520 Thereupon, 00:03:32.520 --> 00:03:34.520 boundless joy overwhelmed the heart of Abu Ayyub 00:03:34.520 --> 00:03:36.520 al-Ansari. 00:03:36.520 --> 00:03:38.520 He hastened toward the Messenger of Allah, 00:03:38.520 --> 00:03:40.520 peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:03:40.520 --> 00:03:42.520 welcoming him warmly, 00:03:42.520 --> 00:03:44.520 and carried his luggage in his arms 00:03:44.520 --> 00:03:46.520 as though he were carrying 00:03:46.520 --> 00:03:48.520 all the treasures of the world, 00:03:48.520 --> 00:03:50.520 proceeding with it toward his home. 00:03:50.520 --> 00:03:52.520 The house of Abu Ayyub 00:03:52.520 --> 00:03:54.520 consisted of a lower floor 00:03:54.520 --> 00:03:56.520 with an upper room above it. 00:03:56.520 --> 00:03:58.520 So he cleared the upper room of his belongings 00:03:58.520 --> 00:04:00.520 and those of his family, 00:04:00.520 --> 00:04:02.520 that the Messenger of Allah might stay in it. 00:04:02.520 --> 00:04:04.520 However, the Prophet, peace be upon him, 00:04:04.520 --> 00:04:06.520 preferred 00:04:06.520 --> 00:04:08.520 the lower floor over it. 00:04:08.520 --> 00:04:10.520 Abu Ayyub complied with his wish 00:04:10.520 --> 00:04:12.520 and accommodated him wherever he pleased. 00:04:12.520 --> 00:04:14.620 When night fell 00:04:14.620 --> 00:04:16.620 and the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah 00:04:16.620 --> 00:04:18.620 be upon him, retired to his bed, 00:04:18.620 --> 00:04:20.620 Abu Ayyub 00:04:20.620 --> 00:04:22.620 and his wife climbed up to the upper room. 00:04:22.620 --> 00:04:24.620 No sooner had they shut 00:04:24.620 --> 00:04:26.620 its door upon themselves than 00:04:26.620 --> 00:04:28.620 Abu Ayyub turned to his wife 00:04:28.620 --> 00:04:30.620 and said, "Woe to you! 00:04:30.620 --> 00:04:32.620 What have we done? 00:04:32.620 --> 00:04:34.620 Can the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, be 00:04:34.620 --> 00:04:36.620 below, 00:04:36.620 --> 00:04:38.620 while we are above him? 00:04:38.620 --> 00:04:40.620 Shall I walk above the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him? 00:04:40.620 --> 00:04:42.620 Shall we come between the Prophet 00:04:42.620 --> 00:04:44.620 and revelation? 00:04:44.620 --> 00:04:46.620 We would surely then 00:04:46.620 --> 00:04:48.620 be ruined!" 00:04:48.620 --> 00:04:50.620 The couple was seized with distress and bewilderment, 00:04:50.620 --> 00:04:52.620 not knowing what to do. 00:04:52.620 --> 00:04:54.620 Their souls found 00:04:54.620 --> 00:04:56.620 no measure of peace 00:04:56.620 --> 00:04:58.620 until they retreated 00:04:58.620 --> 00:05:00.620 to the side of the upper room 00:05:00.620 --> 00:05:02.620 that was not directly above the Messenger of Allah, 00:05:02.620 --> 00:05:04.620 peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:05:04.620 --> 00:05:06.620 They kept strictly to it, never leaving it 00:05:06.620 --> 00:05:08.620 except by tiptoeing along the edges, 00:05:08.620 --> 00:05:10.620 keeping well away 00:05:10.620 --> 00:05:12.649 from the center. 00:05:12.649 --> 00:05:14.649 In the morning, Abu Ayyub 00:05:14.649 --> 00:05:16.649 said to the Prophet, peace be upon him: 00:05:16.649 --> 00:05:18.649 "By Allah, not an eyelid 00:05:18.649 --> 00:05:20.649 of ours closed this 00:05:20.649 --> 00:05:22.649 night—neither mine 00:05:22.649 --> 00:05:24.779 nor Umm Ayyub's." 00:05:24.779 --> 00:05:26.779 So he, peace be upon him, asked: 00:05:26.779 --> 00:05:28.779 "And why was that, O Abu 00:05:28.779 --> 00:05:30.779 Ayyub?" He replied: 00:05:30.779 --> 00:05:32.779 "I remembered that I was on the roof of a house 00:05:32.779 --> 00:05:34.779 beneath which you were, 00:05:34.779 --> 00:05:36.779 and that if I moved, 00:05:36.779 --> 00:05:38.779 dust would fall upon you and cause you discomfort. 00:05:38.779 --> 00:05:40.779 Moreover, 00:05:40.779 --> 00:05:42.779 I would be coming between you and revelation." 00:05:42.779 --> 00:05:44.779 Thereupon the Messenger, peace and blessings 00:05:44.779 --> 00:05:46.779 be upon him, said to him: 00:05:46.779 --> 00:05:48.779 "Take it easy, O Abu Ayyub; 00:05:48.779 --> 00:05:50.779 it is indeed more convenient for us 00:05:50.779 --> 00:05:52.779 to be on the ground floor, 00:05:52.779 --> 00:05:54.779 on account of the many people who visit us." 00:05:54.779 --> 00:05:56.779 Abu Ayyub said: 00:05:56.779 --> 00:05:58.779 "So I complied with the order of the Messenger of Allah, 00:05:58.779 --> 00:06:00.779 peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:06:00.779 --> 00:06:02.779 until a cold night came 00:06:02.779 --> 00:06:04.779 when a clay jar of ours broke, 00:06:04.779 --> 00:06:06.779 and its water spilled out 00:06:06.779 --> 00:06:08.779 in the upper room. 00:06:08.779 --> 00:06:10.779 Umm Ayyub and I rushed to the water, 00:06:10.779 --> 00:06:12.779 having nothing 00:06:12.779 --> 00:06:14.779 but a single velvet garment that we 00:06:14.779 --> 00:06:16.779 used as a blanket. 00:06:16.779 --> 00:06:18.779 We began soaking up the water with it, 00:06:18.779 --> 00:06:20.779 for fear that any of it might seep through 00:06:20.779 --> 00:06:22.779 to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:06:24.779 --> 00:06:26.779 When morning came, 00:06:26.779 --> 00:06:28.779 I went down to the Messenger, peace and blessings 00:06:28.779 --> 00:06:30.779 of Allah be upon him, 00:06:30.779 --> 00:06:32.779 and said: 'May my father and mother be ransomed for you! 00:06:32.779 --> 00:06:34.779 I cannot bear to be 00:06:34.779 --> 00:06:36.779 above you, 00:06:36.779 --> 00:06:38.779 while you are below me.' 00:06:38.779 --> 00:06:40.779 Then I told him the incident of the jar, 00:06:40.779 --> 00:06:42.779 so he consented to my plea 00:06:42.779 --> 00:06:44.779 and moved up to the upper room, 00:06:44.779 --> 00:06:46.779 while Umm Ayyub and I moved down 00:06:46.779 --> 00:06:48.779 to the ground floor." 00:06:48.779 --> 00:06:50.779 The Prophet, peace be upon him, stayed 00:06:50.779 --> 00:06:52.779 in the house of Abu Ayyub 00:06:52.779 --> 00:06:54.779 for about seven months, 00:06:54.779 --> 00:06:56.810 until the construction 00:06:56.810 --> 00:06:58.810 of his mosque was completed upon the vacant land 00:06:58.810 --> 00:07:00.810 where the she-camel had knelt down. 00:07:00.810 --> 00:07:02.810 He then moved into the apartments 00:07:02.810 --> 00:07:04.810 that were built around the mosque 00:07:04.810 --> 00:07:06.810 for himself and his wives, 00:07:06.810 --> 00:07:08.810 thereby becoming a neighbor to Abu Ayyub— 00:07:08.810 --> 00:07:10.810 and how noble 00:07:10.810 --> 00:07:12.810 were those two neighbors! 00:07:12.810 --> 00:07:14.810 Abu Ayyub loved 00:07:14.810 --> 00:07:16.810 the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah 00:07:16.810 --> 00:07:18.810 be upon him, with a love 00:07:18.810 --> 00:07:20.810 that captured his heart and soul, 00:07:20.810 --> 00:07:22.810 and the Noble Messenger loved 00:07:22.810 --> 00:07:24.810 Abu Ayyub with a love 00:07:24.810 --> 00:07:26.810 that removed all formality between them, 00:07:26.810 --> 00:07:28.810 leading him to regard 00:07:28.810 --> 00:07:30.810 the house of Abu Ayyub 00:07:30.810 --> 00:07:32.810 as though it were his own home. 00:07:32.810 --> 00:07:34.810 Ibn 'Abbas narrated, saying: 00:07:34.810 --> 00:07:36.810 Abu Bakr 00:07:36.810 --> 00:07:38.810 (may Allah be pleased with him) went out in the midday heat 00:07:38.810 --> 00:07:40.810 to the mosque, 00:07:40.810 --> 00:07:42.810 and 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) saw him 00:07:42.810 --> 00:07:44.810 and said, "O Abu Bakr, 00:07:44.810 --> 00:07:46.810 what brought you out at this hour?" 00:07:46.810 --> 00:07:48.810 He replied, 00:07:48.810 --> 00:07:50.810 "Nothing brought me out except what I feel 00:07:50.810 --> 00:07:52.810 of severe hunger." 00:07:52.810 --> 00:07:54.810 Thereupon 'Umar said, 00:07:54.810 --> 00:07:56.810 "By Allah, nothing brought me out 00:07:56.810 --> 00:07:58.810 other than that either." 00:07:58.810 --> 00:08:00.810 While they were conversing like that, 00:08:00.810 --> 00:08:02.810 the Messenger of Allah 00:08:02.810 --> 00:08:04.810 (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came out to them 00:08:04.810 --> 00:08:06.810 and said, 00:08:06.810 --> 00:08:08.810 "What brought the two of you out at this hour?" 00:08:08.810 --> 00:08:10.810 They said, "By Allah, 00:08:10.810 --> 00:08:12.810 nothing brought us out except what we feel 00:08:12.810 --> 00:08:14.810 in our bellies from severe hunger." 00:08:14.810 --> 00:08:16.810 He (peace be upon him) said, 00:08:16.810 --> 00:08:18.810 "And by the One in Whose 00:08:18.810 --> 00:08:20.810 Hand is my soul, 00:08:20.810 --> 00:08:22.810 nothing brought me out other than that. 00:08:22.810 --> 00:08:24.810 Stand up and come with me." 00:08:24.810 --> 00:08:26.810 So they set off 00:08:26.810 --> 00:08:28.810 and came to the door of Abu Ayyub 00:08:28.810 --> 00:08:30.810 (may Allah be pleased with him). 00:08:30.810 --> 00:08:32.809 Now Abu Ayyub used to keep aside 00:08:32.809 --> 00:08:34.809 for the Messenger of Allah every day 00:08:34.809 --> 00:08:36.809 some food; 00:08:36.809 --> 00:08:38.809 then, if he was delayed and did not come 00:08:38.809 --> 00:08:40.809 to him at his usual time, 00:08:40.809 --> 00:08:42.809 he would feed it to his family. 00:08:42.809 --> 00:08:44.809 When they reached the door, 00:08:44.809 --> 00:08:46.809 Umm Ayyub came out to them 00:08:46.809 --> 00:08:48.809 and said, "Welcome!" 00:08:48.809 --> 00:08:50.809 The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) asked her, 00:08:50.809 --> 00:08:52.809 "Where is Abu Ayyub?" 00:08:52.809 --> 00:08:54.809 Abu Ayyub heard 00:08:54.809 --> 00:08:56.809 the voice of the Prophet, 00:08:56.809 --> 00:08:58.809 as he was working in a nearby palm grove of his. 00:08:58.809 --> 00:09:00.809 So he came rushing, 00:09:00.809 --> 00:09:02.809 saying, "Welcome 00:09:02.809 --> 00:09:04.809 to the Messenger of Allah and to those with him!" 00:09:04.809 --> 00:09:06.809 Then he followed up by saying, 00:09:06.809 --> 00:09:08.809 "O Prophet of Allah, 00:09:08.809 --> 00:09:10.809 this is not the time at which 00:09:10.809 --> 00:09:12.809 you usually come." 00:09:12.809 --> 00:09:14.809 The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, 00:09:14.809 --> 00:09:16.809 "You have spoken the truth." 00:09:16.809 --> 00:09:18.809 Abu Ayyub went to his palm trees 00:09:18.809 --> 00:09:20.809 and cut down a cluster 00:09:20.809 --> 00:09:22.809 containing dried dates, ripe dates, and unripe dates. 00:09:22.809 --> 00:09:24.809 The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 00:09:24.809 --> 00:09:26.809 "I did not want you 00:09:26.809 --> 00:09:28.809 to cut this down! 00:09:28.809 --> 00:09:30.809 Why did you not just pick some of its dried dates for us?" 00:09:30.809 --> 00:09:32.809 He said, "O Messenger of Allah, 00:09:32.809 --> 00:09:34.809 I wanted you to eat 00:09:34.809 --> 00:09:36.809 from its dried dates, its ripe dates, and its unripe dates; 00:09:36.809 --> 00:09:38.809 and I will surely slaughter 00:09:38.809 --> 00:09:40.809 for you as well." 00:09:40.809 --> 00:09:42.809 The Prophet said, "If you slaughter, do not slaughter 00:09:42.809 --> 00:09:44.809 a milch animal." 00:09:44.809 --> 00:09:46.809 Abu Ayyub took a young goat 00:09:46.809 --> 00:09:48.809 and slaughtered it; then he said 00:09:48.809 --> 00:09:50.809 to his wife, "Knead the dough 00:09:50.809 --> 00:09:52.809 and bake bread for us, for you 00:09:52.809 --> 00:09:54.809 know best how to bake." Then 00:09:54.809 --> 00:09:56.809 he took half the goat and stewed it, 00:09:56.809 --> 00:09:58.809 and turned to the other half 00:09:58.809 --> 00:10:00.809 and roasted it. When 00:10:00.809 --> 00:10:02.809 the food was cooked and placed 00:10:02.809 --> 00:10:04.809 before the Prophet and his two companions, 00:10:04.809 --> 00:10:06.809 the Messenger took a piece 00:10:06.809 --> 00:10:08.809 of the goat and placed it 00:10:08.809 --> 00:10:10.809 in a loaf of bread and said, 00:10:10.809 --> 00:10:12.809 "O Abu Ayyub, 00:10:12.809 --> 00:10:14.809 hasten with this piece 00:10:14.809 --> 00:10:16.809 to Fatimah, for she 00:10:16.809 --> 00:10:18.809 has not tasted the like of this for 00:10:18.809 --> 00:10:20.809 days." When 00:10:20.809 --> 00:10:22.809 they had eaten and were full, 00:10:22.809 --> 00:10:24.809 the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 00:10:24.809 --> 00:10:26.809 "Bread, 00:10:26.809 --> 00:10:28.809 meat, dried dates, 00:10:28.809 --> 00:10:30.809 unripe dates, and ripe dates!" 00:10:30.809 --> 00:10:32.809 His eyes welled with tears, and then 00:10:32.809 --> 00:10:34.809 he said, "By the One in Whose 00:10:34.809 --> 00:10:36.809 Hand is my soul, 00:10:36.809 --> 00:10:38.809 this is indeed the blessing about which 00:10:38.809 --> 00:10:40.809 you will be questioned on the Day of Resurrection. 00:10:40.809 --> 00:10:42.809 So when you partake of such food 00:10:42.809 --> 00:10:44.809 and reach out your hands to it, 00:10:44.809 --> 00:10:46.809 say: 00:10:46.809 --> 00:10:48.809 'In the name of Allah'; 00:10:48.809 --> 00:10:50.809 and when you are satisfied, say: 00:10:50.809 --> 00:10:52.809 'Praise be to Allah Who 00:10:52.809 --> 00:10:54.809 has satisfied us and bestowed favor 00:10:54.809 --> 00:10:56.809 upon us and excelled in generosity.'" 00:10:56.809 --> 00:10:58.809 Then the Messenger (peace and blessings 00:10:58.809 --> 00:11:00.809 of Allah be upon him) stood up 00:11:00.809 --> 00:11:02.809 and said to Abu Ayyub, 00:11:02.809 --> 00:11:04.809 "Come to us tomorrow." 00:11:04.809 --> 00:11:06.809 The Prophet (peace be upon him) never had someone 00:11:06.809 --> 00:11:08.809 do him a favor 00:11:08.809 --> 00:11:10.809 without wishing to reward him 00:11:10.809 --> 00:11:12.809 for it. 00:11:12.809 --> 00:11:14.809 But Abu Ayyub did not hear 00:11:14.809 --> 00:11:16.809 that, 00:11:16.809 --> 00:11:18.809 so 'Umar (may Allah be pleased 00:11:18.809 --> 00:11:20.809 with him) said to him, "The Prophet (peace and blessings 00:11:20.809 --> 00:11:22.809 of Allah be upon him) is bidding you 00:11:22.809 --> 00:11:24.809 to come to him tomorrow, O Abu 00:11:24.809 --> 00:11:26.809 Ayyub!" Abu 00:11:26.809 --> 00:11:28.809 Ayyub replied, "Hearing and obeying 00:11:28.809 --> 00:11:30.809 to the Messenger of Allah." 00:11:30.809 --> 00:11:32.809 When the next day came, 00:11:32.809 --> 00:11:34.809 Abu Ayyub went to the Prophet (peace and blessings 00:11:34.809 --> 00:11:36.809 of Allah be upon him), 00:11:36.809 --> 00:11:38.809 who gave him a young female servant who used to serve him, 00:11:38.809 --> 00:11:40.809 and said to him, 00:11:40.809 --> 00:11:42.809 "Treat her well, O Abu 00:11:42.809 --> 00:11:44.809 Ayyub, for we have seen nothing from her 00:11:44.809 --> 00:11:46.809 but good as long as she has been 00:11:46.809 --> 00:11:48.809 with us." Abu 00:11:48.809 --> 00:11:50.809 Ayyub returned to his home, bringing with him 00:11:50.809 --> 00:11:52.809 the young woman. When 00:11:52.809 --> 00:11:54.809 Umm Ayyub saw her, she asked, 00:11:54.809 --> 00:11:56.809 "Whose is this, O Abu 00:11:56.809 --> 00:11:58.809 Ayyub?" He replied, "Ours; 00:11:58.809 --> 00:12:00.809 the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings 00:12:00.809 --> 00:12:02.809 of Allah be upon him) gifted her to us." 00:12:02.809 --> 00:12:04.809 She said, 00:12:04.809 --> 00:12:06.809 "How magnificent a giver, 00:12:06.809 --> 00:12:08.809 and how noble a gift!" 00:12:08.809 --> 00:12:10.809 He added, 00:12:10.809 --> 00:12:12.809 "And he instructed us to treat her well." 00:12:12.809 --> 00:12:14.809 She asked, 00:12:14.809 --> 00:12:16.809 "And what shall we do with her so that 00:12:16.809 --> 00:12:18.809 we fulfill the instruction of the Messenger of Allah 00:12:18.809 --> 00:12:20.809 (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)?" 00:12:20.809 --> 00:12:22.809 He said, "By Allah, I do not 00:12:22.809 --> 00:12:24.809 find any way to fulfill the counsel of the Messenger of Allah 00:12:24.809 --> 00:12:26.809 toward her that is better 00:12:26.809 --> 00:12:28.809 than freeing her." 00:12:28.809 --> 00:12:30.809 She said, "You have been guided to 00:12:30.809 --> 00:12:32.809 what is right, and you are truly granted success!" 00:12:32.809 --> 00:12:34.809 So he emancipated her. 00:12:34.809 --> 00:12:36.870 These are but a few glimpses into the life 00:12:36.870 --> 00:12:38.870 of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari 00:12:38.870 --> 00:12:40.870 in times of peace. 00:12:40.870 --> 00:12:42.870 Yet if you were granted the opportunity to examine 00:12:42.870 --> 00:12:44.870 some aspects of his life in wartime, 00:12:44.870 --> 00:12:46.870 you would witness something truly wondrous! 00:12:46.870 --> 00:12:48.870 For Abu Ayyub 00:12:48.870 --> 00:12:50.870 (may Allah be pleased with him) lived his entire life 00:12:50.870 --> 00:12:52.870 as a warrior, to the point that 00:12:52.870 --> 00:12:54.870 it was said he never stayed behind 00:12:54.870 --> 00:12:56.870 from any military expedition the Muslims undertook 00:12:56.870 --> 00:12:58.870 from the time of the Messenger 00:12:58.870 --> 00:13:00.870 until the era of Mu'awiyah, 00:13:00.870 --> 00:13:02.870 unless he was occupied 00:13:02.870 --> 00:13:04.870 away from it by another campaign. 00:13:04.870 --> 00:13:06.870 His final expedition was 00:13:06.870 --> 00:13:08.870 when Mu'awiyah prepared an army 00:13:08.870 --> 00:13:10.870 under the command of his son Yazid 00:13:10.870 --> 00:13:12.870 to conquer Constantinople. 00:13:12.870 --> 00:13:14.870 At that time, Abu Ayyub 00:13:14.870 --> 00:13:16.870 was an elderly man, 00:13:16.870 --> 00:13:18.870 advanced in years, 00:13:18.870 --> 00:13:20.870 approaching eighty years of age. 00:13:20.870 --> 00:13:22.870 Yet that did not prevent him 00:13:22.870 --> 00:13:24.870 from enlisting under the banner of 00:13:24.870 --> 00:13:26.870 Yazid and cleaving 00:13:26.870 --> 00:13:28.870 the waves of the sea as a warrior 00:13:28.870 --> 00:13:30.870 in the cause of Allah. 00:13:30.870 --> 00:13:32.870 However, only a short time passed 00:13:32.870 --> 00:13:34.870 after engaging the enemy 00:13:34.870 --> 00:13:36.870 before Abu Ayyub fell ill— 00:13:36.870 --> 00:13:38.870 an illness that immobilized him from 00:13:38.870 --> 00:13:40.870 continuing to fight. 00:13:40.870 --> 00:13:42.870 So Yazid came to visit him 00:13:42.870 --> 00:13:44.870 and asked him, "Do you have any final request, 00:13:44.870 --> 00:13:46.870 O Abu Ayyub?" 00:13:46.870 --> 00:13:48.870 He said, "Convey my greetings 00:13:48.870 --> 00:13:50.870 of peace to the Muslim soldiers, 00:13:50.870 --> 00:13:52.870 and say to them: 00:13:52.870 --> 00:13:54.870 'Abu Ayyub urges you 00:13:54.870 --> 00:13:56.870 to penetrate deep into the land 00:13:56.870 --> 00:13:58.870 to the farthest possible reach, 00:13:58.870 --> 00:14:00.870 to carry him along with you, 00:14:00.870 --> 00:14:02.870 and to bury him beneath 00:14:02.870 --> 00:14:04.870 your feet by 00:14:04.870 --> 00:14:07.000 the walls of Constantinople.'" 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:09.000 And breathed his pure last breath. 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:11.129 The Muslim soldiers 00:14:11.129 --> 00:14:13.129 responded to the wish 00:14:13.129 --> 00:14:15.129 of the Companion of the Messenger of Allah, 00:14:15.129 --> 00:14:17.129 peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:14:17.129 --> 00:14:19.129 and launched attack after attack 00:14:19.129 --> 00:14:21.129 against the enemy ranks, 00:14:21.129 --> 00:14:23.129 until they reached the walls 00:14:23.129 --> 00:14:25.129 of Constantinople, carrying 00:14:25.129 --> 00:14:27.129 Abu Ayyub with them. 00:14:27.129 --> 00:14:29.129 And there, 00:14:29.129 --> 00:14:31.129 they dug a grave for him 00:14:31.129 --> 00:14:33.259 and laid him to rest in it. 00:14:33.259 --> 00:14:35.259 May Allah have mercy on Abu Ayyub 00:14:35.259 --> 00:14:37.259 al-Ansari, 00:14:37.259 --> 00:14:39.259 for he insisted on dying nowhere else 00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:41.259 but upon the backs of noble steeds, 00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:43.259 striving as a warrior in the cause 00:14:43.259 --> 00:14:45.259 of Allah, even though his age 00:14:45.259 --> 00:14:47.259 was nearing eighty. 00:14:47.259 --> 00:14:49.379 Abu Ayyub 00:14:49.379 --> 00:14:51.379 al-Ansari, may Allah be pleased 00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:53.379 with him, 00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:55.379 was buried beneath the walls of Constantinople.