The Humble Beginnings of The Prophet’s Masjid

March 17, 2026 | Abdullah Jallow | Featured, History of Islam, Morals and Manners – ‘Akhlaaq’, Prophets, Purification of The Soul, Sahaabah, Salaf As Saalih (Pious Predecessors), Scholars of Islam, The Salaf – Pious Predecessors, Worship – ‘Ibaadah’

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Anas Bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated:

“We used to pray with the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in scorching heat, and if one of us could not put his face on the earth (because of the heat), he would spread his clothes and prostrate over them”. [1]

Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy upon him] mentioned that according to some scholars, this happened before the order to delay prayer in extreme heat. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, observed that it was difficult for people to perform Sujud on the hot ground, so he instructed them to delay the prayer until the weather was cooler. Some scholars explained that “in scorching heat” refers to a day that is very hot and the stone or the thing with which (the floor) of the Masjid is covered becomes too hot to prostrate on, even if the weather itself is not intensely hot. This is an explanation from another angle. [2]

Abu Salamah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: I asked Abu Sa’eed, may Allah be pleased with him, and he was a friend of mine, (about the Night of Qadr) and he said: “We practiced I’tikaf in the middle third of the month of Ramadan with the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. In the morning of the 20th of Ramadan, the Prophet came and addressed us and said, “I was informed of (the date of the Night of Qadr) but I was caused to forget it; so search for it in the odd nights of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. (In the dream) I saw myself prostrating in mud and water (as a sign). So, whoever was in I’tikaf with me should return to it with me (for another 10 days)”, and we returned. At that time there was no sign of clouds in the sky but suddenly a cloud came and it rained till rainwater started leaking through the roof of the Masjid which was made of date palm leaf stalks. Then the prayer was established and I saw Allah’s Messenger prostrating in mud and water and I saw the traces of mud on his forehead.” [3]

[1] al-Bukhari. 1208

[2] Paraphrased: https://www.alathar.net/home/esound/index.php?op=codevi&coid=43481

[3] al-Bukhari 2016