The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 2 of 4

came to him and said, '0 Messenger of God, where are you staying?' He replied,
'A man stays wherever his baggage is.' The Messenger of God (SAAS) stayed
there in the shed for 12 nights, until the mosque was built."
This was a great honour for Abii Ayyiib Khalid b. Zayd, God bless him, to
have the Messenger of God (SAAS) stay with him.
It was related to us through Yazid h. Abii Habib from Muhammad b. 'Ali b.
'Ahd All& b. 'Ahbas, may God be pleased with him, that Abii Ayyiib came to
Basra over which Ibn 'Abbas had been appointed governor by 'Ali b. Abii Tdib,
may God be pleased with him. Ibn 'AhbS came out of his house and invited
Abii Ayyiib to stay there, just as the latter had provided accommodation for the
Messenger of God (SAAS) in his house. He also presented him with everything
within the house; and when he came to leave, Ibn 'Abbas gave him 20,000
dirhams and 40 slaves.
Abii Ayyiih's house later passed into the hands of his freed-man Aflah;
al-Mughira h. 'Abd al-Rahman b. aI-Harith b. Hishm bought it from him for
1,000 dinars, repaired it and donated it for the use of the poor of Medina who
belonged to the household of the Prophet (SAAS).
Similarly his staying in the home of the Banii al-Najju and God's choosing
that for him, was also a great honour. In Medina there were many such complexes,
nine in number. Each of these was separate and self-sufficient, with its
own date-palms, gardens and families. Each one of their tribes were gathered in
their own quarters, making them like adjoining villages. God chose for the
Messenger of God (SAAS) the home of the Banii Malik h. al-Najjar.
In both fahih collections it is established from a hadith of Shu'ba as follows, "I
heard Qatada quote Anas b. Mdik as stating, 'The Messenger of God (SAAS)
said, "The best of the amdr homes is that of the Banii al-Najjsr, then comes that
of the Banii al-Ashhal, then the Banii al-H&th b. al-Khazraj, then the Banii
Sa'ida; and in all the homes of the anfar there is good."'
"Sa'd h. Wada stated, 'I never saw the Messenger of God (SAAS), fail to
express preference for others over us.' But he was told instead, 'He gave preference
to you over many."'
This quotation comes from al-Bukhari.
Al-Bukh~ri and Muslim also related this from a hadith of Anas and Abu
Salama, from Abii Usayd Malik b. Rabi'a, and from a hadith of Wbada h. Sahl,
from Abii Humayd, from the Prophet (SAAS), in the same terms. In the hadith
of Abii Humayd there is an addition: 'LAha Usayd said to Sa'd b. 'UbZda, 'Don't
yon think that the Prophet (SAAS) expressed favour for the anjar and placed us
last?' And so Sa'd went to the Prophet (SAAS) and asked, '0 Messenger of God,
have you given preference to the homes of the anjar and placed us last?' 'Well',
he replied, 'does it not suffice you that you are among the very best?"'
Great honour and credit were firmly established for the people of Medina, the
anfar, both in this world and the next. God Almighty stated, "As for those who