The life of the Prophet Muhammad - Ibn Kathir - volume 2 of 4

208 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
I would observe, however, that al-Hasan al-Basri was large in size and tall.
God bless hi.
Al-Suhayli stated in al-Rawd (The Gardens), "The apartments of the
Messenger of God (SAAS) were built of the stalks of palm leaves covered with
mud and partly of stones stacked upon one another. The ceilings of all were
made of palm fronds."
This account was related from al-Hasan al-Bqri.
His rooms were made of hair-cloth held together with juniper-tree wood.
In al-Bukhai's work of history we learn that finger nails could knock on the
door of the Messenger of God (SAAS); this shows that there were no cloth
coverings over his doors.
He stated, "And after the deaths of the wives of the Messenger of God
(SAAS) all these apartments were added to the mosque."
Al-Waqidi, Ibn Jarir and others said, "When 'Ahd Allah h. Urayqic al-Dili
returned to Mecca, the Messenger of God (SAAS) and Ahii Bakr dispatched
Zayd b. Haritha and Abii R3ic, both freed-men of the Messenger of God
(SAAS) to bring back their families from Mecca. They sent with them two loads
of goods and 500 dirhams with which to purchase a camel of Qudayd. They left
and soon returned with the two daughters of the Messenger of God (SAAS),
Fahma and Umm Kulthiim, his two wives, Sawda and 'A'isha, and the latter's
mother, Umm Riimw, along with other members of his and Abn Bakr's family,
including the latter's son, 'Ahd Allah. On the road hack, the mounts of 'A'isha
and her mother Umm Riiman strayed apart and Umm Riimzn began calling out,
'Bride! My daughter!' 'A'isha later said, 'I heard a voice say, "Let loose its
bridle!' So I did this and it stopped, at God's will; we give praise to God the
Almighty and Glorious.' They stayed at alSunh on the way. Eight months later,
in Shawwa, as we will relate, the Messenger of God (SAAS) consummated his
marriage with 'A'isha.
"Asma', daughter of Ahii Bakr and wife of al-Zubayr h. al-'Aw~m arrived
also; she was pregnant and near term with 'Ahd Allah h. al-Zubayr, as we will
relate in its proper place in material relating to the end of that year.
How the Emigrants suffered from the Medina fever, God be pleased with them
all, though the Messenger of God (SAAS) was spared it through the strength
and power of God; he prayed to his Lord who then drew it away from his city.
Al-Bukhari stated, "'Abd Allah h. Wahh b. Yiisuf related to us, quoting Malik
h. Hisham h. 'Urwa, from his father, from 'A'isha, who said, 'Abii Bakr and Biial
fell sick around the time that the Messenger of God (SAAS) arrived in Medina.
I went in to see them and asked, "How are you, father? Bild, how are you?"'
She said: "Whenever Aha Bakr developed a fever he would recite,