Chief of the Prophets — Page 86
Chapter Six 86 The people of Yathrib were unaware of the three days stay of Muḥammad sa in the Cave of Thaur and expected Muḥammad sa to arrive earlier. Every day, they would go quite a distance outside Yathrib to welcome the Prophet’s party, but return disappointed. That day as well, after waiting quite a while, they were returning to Yathrib when a Jew standing at a high place saw the distant white clothes of Muḥammad sa and his companions, and loudly shouted, “O people of Arabia, the one you wait upon has come!” The faces of the people waiting lit up with joy on hearing this blessed news, and they took up their arms and dashed out of Madīnah to greet them. 1 After reaching close to Madīnah, Muḥammad sa for some unknown reason did not enter the city right away and went to the nearby town of Qubā’, which is two and a half miles on the outskirts of Madīnah. There, he stayed as a guest at the house of a sincere person, Kulthūm bin al-Hadam ra. Three days later, ‘Alī ra also joined them after returning all the trusts of the people. Construction of Masjid al-Qubā’ After arriving at Qubā’, Muḥammad sa first laid the foundation of a mosque with his blessed hands, which was completed in the next few days by the Companions. Muḥammad sa had so much love for this mosque that even afterwards he would go there once a week to offer Ṣalāt. Arrival in Madīnah Muḥammad sa stayed for ten or twelve days in Qubā’, and thereafter left for Madīnah on a Friday. The time of Jumu’ah (Friday Prayers) arrived on the way; therefore, he stopped in the neighborhood inhabited by Banū Sālim bin ‘Auf to lead the Friday prayers and delivered the Friday sermon. Historians write that this was the first formal Friday prayer service which was performed. Once the caravan reached Madīnah, whichever Muslim’s house the caravan 1 Among the Arabs, going out with arms symbolized that they were ready to sacrifice their lives for the guest.