When the prophet (SAW) migrated to Madinah, he first went to a place called Quba, which came first, on the outskirts of the city of Madinah. It was considered its own settlement and municipality at the time. He (AS) stayed there for just a few days, and the first thing he did was to lay down the foundations of a masjid. This masjid is known to all of us as Masjid Quba. A few days later, when he set out to Madinah, it was Jumua, and Jumua would come on the way into Madinah, so the prophet (SAW) stopped at one place and offered Jumua. This place, too, became a masjid, which is known even today as Masjid Al-Jumua. He proceeded further, and, on the way, people of various tribes of the Ansar were approaching him, and everyone wanted him to go to their neighborhood and settle with them. These people were trying to give the prophet (SAW) various incentives. Some would say, “O prophet of Allah (SWT), come with us. We have the strongest fighters and the largest numbers.” Some would say, “O prophet of Allah (SWT), we have the most camels.” Another would come and say, “O prophet of Allah (SWT), we have the most date trees and gardens.” Like this, each group was coming, and their chief was trying to convince the prophet (SAW). In their desire to have the prophet (SAW) come and stay with them, some would hold the reins of his camel and request him in that way. The prophet (SAW) would tell them, “Leave it. It has its instructions from Allah (SWT).” Now, the prophet (AS) proceeds, and the camel takes him right into the actual city of Madinah, and the actual city of Madinah at that time was, in fact, just that area which is covered by Masjid Nabwi and the marbled area around it. That was basically all of Madinah. There were small streets, tiny houses and a little bit of space for gardens and things like that, but it was quite densely built. His camel stops at a place where there is open ground and it sits down. Then, it gets up and goes to the house of Abu Al-Ansari (RA); where he used to live. There is a long story as to why the camel actually went there and why not anyone else’s house, but regardless, the prophet (SAW) inquired about the land that the camel first stopped on, so people told him, “This is the land that belongs to two young boys; Sahl and Suhail.” The prophet (SAW) said, “I wish to build a masjid here.” So, the boys offered the land as a gift or donation. The prophet (SAW) did not accept their donation because they were young orphans, but he did pay them a handsome amount of money for that land. Immediately, the foundation of the masjid was laid.
Look at the prophet (SAW)’s attention on establishing a place of prayer. It was given more importance than his own residence. Upon traveling to a new land, the first step he took was to establish a masjid, and as he was moving, he established another masjid, known as masjid Al-Jumua, then as he reached his destination, he established another new masjid. He simply stayed as a guest of Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari for about half a year or so. Now, establishing a masjid is actually establishing salah and the worship of Allah (SWT). It is giving importance to that over everything else in one’s life – over all of one’s other needs. The need to be connected to Allah (SWT) and to fulfill one’s duties to him. Somewhere in this are many important messages for us. Amongst them, the importance of establishing salah no matter where we are. Whether we are close or far away from a masjid, we must establish salah, and in current circumstances, where we cannot build a masjid in Australia, or at least in Victoria, it becomes important for us to make a masjid in our homes, and to have adhaan and iqama and timings where everyone in the house knows when the time of salah is. This is the least that we can do in these circumstances – most of us are deprived from the reward of going and praying with Jamaat, but, if we work hard and create that kind of environment in our own homes, Allah (SWT) will reward us immensely, and the environment of our homes will change. Allah (SWT)’s mercy will descend on these homes. Mala’ika will surround these homes, and Shaytan will run away from the adhaan. Troubles will flee these homes, and the barakah and blessings of Allah (SWT) will enter these homes. May Allah (SWT) enable us to be from those people who establish salah wherever they go and may Allah (SWT) enable us to populate and beautify our homes with sujood, rukuh, qiyam and tilawat of the Qur’an.
