1. Abdur Rehman bin Auf (RU) and his house:

He belonged to Banu Zuhra branch of Quraish tribe. He was born ten years after the event of the owners of elephants. His name, during the period of ignorance, was Abdul Kabah. The Prophet (SAS) changed it to Abdur Rehman. He embraced Islam through the preaching of Abu Bakr (RU). He first migrated to Habsha and later to Madina. He took part in all the battles with the Prophet (SAS). He is one of those ten companions who were given glad tiding of Paradise by the Prophet (SAS). He was nominated by Caliph Omar for the advisory council of six persons to choose the next caliph. He was very rich and loved to give away his wealth in charity. He died during 32 Hijrah. He left behind thousands of cattle and a very rich inheritance. For example, after distributing of gold to all his legal heir, each of his four wives received eighty thousand dinars.

1(a) It appears from various narrations that Abdur Rehman bin Auf  (RU) had several houses around the Prophet’s Mosque. One of his houses was opposite to the ninth door of the Mosque and it was known as or a guest house since he use to accommodate the guests of the Prophet (SAS) in this house. It was also called a big house since it was the largest house among the emigrants.

According to Samhoudi (who died in 911 Hijrah), there was a building on this site known as guest house.

As mentioned in Vafa-ul-Vafa, there was a huge garden of Abu Talha (RU) just north of the Prophet’s Mosque. The Prophet (SAS) granted some pieces of land of this garden to many of his companions. Abdur Rehman bin Auf (RU) received a piece of this garden and he built this famous guesthouse on it.

1(b) Abdur Rehman bin Auf (RU) had three other houses just north of the Mosque. These houses were joined with each other and hence they were called Karain. When Omar bin AbdulAziz (RTA) was governor of Madina, he removed these three houses in order to extend the Prophet’s Mosque.

2. Mulaika bint Khareja (RUA) and her house:

She was daughter of Khareja bin Sanan and wife of Zabban bin Sayyar. On the death of her husband, her son, Manzoor bin Zabban married her in accordance with the social practice of the time of ignorance. Islam totally stopped these dirty practices and released Mulaika and other three women from such similar relationship. In this way Islam safeguarded the chastity and honor of these women.

Mulaika came to Madina during the period of caliph Abu Bakr (RU). He asked the companion of the Prophet (SAS), “Who would like to provide shelter to this widow?” Abdur Rehman bin Auf (RU) was very rich and he owned many houses. He rose and took Mulaika to one of his houses for her exclusive use. This house came to be known as Mulaika’s house. So much so that the door of the Mosque opposite to this house was also called Bab Mulaika.

When caliph Mehdi extended the Prophet’s Mosque, part of this house was included in this extension.  

3. Abu Talha Ansari (RU) and his garden:

His name was Zaid bin Sahl bin Aswad but he was known as Abu Talha (RU). He belonged to Banu Najjar branch of Khazraj tribe. He was famous for his bravery and marksmanship. Abu Talha (RU) was one of those twelve persons who promised to safeguard the life of the Prophet (SAS). This commitment was made during Uqba pledge and Abu Talha (RU) fulfilled this commitment in a unique way during the Battle of Uhad. He was shooting arrows at the enemy while keeping his body in front of the Prophet (SAS) to safeguard the Prophet (SAS) during the Battle of Uhad. Whenever the Prophet (SAS) leaned to one side to see where the arrow of Abu Talha (RU) fell, Abu Talha (RU) also leaned towards that direction to shield the Prophet (SAS) with his body. He wished that the Prophet (SAS) was not hurt in anyway.

The Prophet (SAS) said, “Abu Talha’s voice is equivalent to the voice of a troop,” Abu Talha (RU) had the privilege and honor to sit behind the Prophet (SAS) on his camel during the battle of Khaiber. Abu Talha (RU) died during 34 Hijrah when he was seventy years old. Caliph Osman (RU) led his Salat-ul-Janaza. He was buried in Madina.

Abu Talha (RU) owned a very huge garden that was situated just north of the Prophet’s Mosque. There was a well in this garden. The Prophet (SAS) drank water from this well. This well existed till second Saudi extension of the Mosque. The site of this well lies inside the Mosque at present. If you enter the Mosque from Bab Fahd, you will see a few circles marked on the floor to mark the location of this well. It is, however, not correct to touch or kiss this place as some ignorant people try to do.

It is mentioned in Bukhari and is narrated by Anas (RU) about the remarkable submission of Abu Talha (RU) to Allah (SWT). Anas (RU) said, “Abu Talha (RU) owned maximum number of palm trees in Madina. One of his gardens was Bir Ha and it was adjacent to the Prophet’s Mosque. He loved this garden the most.

The Prophet (SAS) used to visit this garden and loved to drink sweet water of well there. When the following verse was revealed (Al-Imran # 92 ).

By no means shall you attain Al-Birr, unless you spend of that which you love; and whatever of good you spend, Allah knows it well.

 You can achieve the utmost piety until you spend in the path Allah (SWT) what you love the most. Abu Talha (RU) rose and said to the Prophet (SAS), “O Prophet of Allah, I love my garden Bir Ha the most. I donate it in the path of Allah (SWT) hoping to be rewarded for it on the Day of Judgment. Please make use of it in the way you consider it appropriate. The Prophet (SAS) was filled with joy and he said,

Fantastic, it is a wonderful commodity, it is a wonderful commodity.

The Prophet (SAS) added, “I heard what you said. It will be better if you distribute it among your relatives.” Abu Talha (RU) distributed it among his relatives as instructed by the Prophet (SAS).

4. (a) Makhrama bin Nofal (RU) and his house:

He belonged to Banu Zahra branch of Quraish tribe. He accepted Islam on the day of conquest of Makkah. Gradually he became very firm in his faith. He took part in the battle of Hunain with the Prophet (SAS). He was a very outstanding scholar of the history of Arabs and especially of Quraish tribe. He died in 54 Hijrah when he was 115 years old. He lost his eyesight during the last part of his life. His house can be seen in the map.

(b) Miswar bin Makhrama (RU):

He was son of Mukhrama bin Nufil and lived in the above house with his father. His mother was Atika bint Auf (RUA), the sister of Abdur Rehman Bin Auf (RU). He was born during 2 Hijrah. He was a prominent scholar of Islamic jurisprudence. After the martyrdom of caliph Osman (RU), he moved to Makkah. He took a pledge with Abdullah bin Zubair (RU). A stone struck him while he was offering his Salat. In this way he became a martyr in Hateem of Kabah during 64 Hijrah. He was 62 years old. Abdullah bin Zubair (RU) led his Salat-ul-Janaza.

Caliph Mehdi purchased part of his house to include it in the Mosque. He also built a minaret of the Prophet’s Mosque at this site on the northeastern corner of the Mosque. Rest of this house was purchased by the family of Mutrif. Later on Jafar bin Yahya (RU) bought it from Mutrif family. It became part of the development that was known as the houses of the donated land.

5. Abdullah bin Masood (RU) and his house:

He belonged to Hazeel tribe. He was a very prominent companion of the Prophet (SAS). He was outstanding scholar and had memorized Quran by heart. The Prophet (SAS) loved to listen his recitation of Quran and he encouraged his companions to recite Quran like Abdullah bin Masood (RU). He served the Prophet (SAS) in the every possible way he could. For example to wake the Prophet (SAS) for Tuhajjad, help him put on his shoes, hold a sheet to provide privacy during the Prophet’s (SAS) bath, fetch his toothbrush and to act as a guide on a street were some of the duties he used to perform. He was allowed to visit the Prophet (SAS) even during his private hours.

When the following verse was revealed (Al-Maidah # 93)

Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on them for what they ate, if they fear Allah, and believe and do righteous good deeds, and again fear Allah and believe, and once again fear Allah and do good deeds with perfection. And Allah loves the good-doers.

The Prophet (SAS) said to Abdullah bin Masood (RU), “You are also from these people.”

Abdullah bin Masood (RU) was a short stature. Hence Omar (RU) used to say,

A small vessel or container but totally filled up with knowledge.

There are 64 Ahadith narrated by him mentioned in Bukhari and Muslim. He died in Madina during 33 Hijrah when he was more than 60 years old. He was buried in Baqee. When Abdullah bin Masood (RU) and his brother Atba bin Masood (RU) migrated to Madina, the Prophet (SAS) granted them land on the north side of the Prophet’s Mosque. Both of them built humble houses on that land. Since Abdullah bin Masood (RU) used to teach Quran, his house came to be known as Dar-ul-Qurra. When Omar bin Abdul Aziz (RTA) extended the Mosque during 91 Hijrah, he annexed the southern part of these two houses with the Mosque. When caliph Mehdi bin Mansur Abbasi extended the Mosque, he included the remaining parts of these houses in the Mosque.

6. Atba bin Masood (RU) and his house:

He was brother of Abdullah bin Masood (RU). He first migrated to Habsha. He came to Madina after the Battle of Badr and hence could not take part in it. He, however, took part in all the other battles.

Ibn Shehab Zuhri said, “We did not consider Abdullah bin Masood (RU) bigger scholar than his brother Atba (RU). Atba (RU) however died very soon during the period of caliph Omar (RU).”

Abdullah bin Atba (RU) said, “When my father died, my uncle Abdullah bin Masood (RU) could not help crying. Someone asked him, ‘Why are you crying?’ My uncle said, ‘Atba was my brother. We were together in the company of the Prophet (SAS). I loved him the most among all the people.’”

As mentioned above, his house was beside of Dar-ul-Qurra and Omar bin Abdul Aziz (RTA) included it in the Mosque during the extension. 

7. Umm Habiba (RUA) and her house:

She had a house given to her by the Prophet (SAS) that is described in chapter three. She also had a house on the north side of the Mosque that she got through inheritance. This house was not touched during the extensions of Omar (RU) and Omar bin AbdulAziz (RU) since it was situated relatively far away from the Mosque. During Mehdi’s extension part of this house was included in the Mosque. The remaining part of this house was purchased by Yahya bin Khaled. It is said that this is used to be part of Abu Talha’s (RU) Bir Ha.