When the prophet (SAW) moved to Madinah, he asked his companions to leave his camel alone because everyone was coming and grabbing the rope of his camel and trying to bring it to their neighbourhood. The camel, first, stopped at the place where today Al Masjid Al-Nabwi is then stopped at a house that house belonged to Abu Ayuub Al Ansari (RA). Abu Ayuub was so excited and honoured that he would get to host the prophet (SAW), but his house had two floors. He wanted the prophet (SAW) to be on the upper floor and him and his wife could stay on the lower floor. The prophet (SAW) said, “It is easier for me if I stay on the ground floor because I always have guests coming and going and if I am upstairs it will be difficult for you and the guests. Let me stay here on the ground floor.” Abu Ayuub agreed to it, but he was very, very embarrassed. He thought it was disrespectful that he was higher in location than the prophet (SAW) and he was beneath him. It used to disturb him so much that he could not sleep at night, thinking, “How am I laying on a place that is higher than where my prophet is laying?” It would sincerely trouble him, and the next morning, he would again go request the prophet (SAW) to go upstairs. The prophet (SAW) would decline and tell him not to worry.
[Above section from a talk delivered by Mufti Aasim Rashid]
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