TP10: Abu Ayub Al Ansari ra Memorial

Paying a visit to Abu Ayub Al Ansari radiyallah hu anhu (ra) was our main agenda visiting Turkey. He was one of the prominent figures during the helm of Prophet Muhammad saw (peace be upon him) and one of my favorites. His story had touched and inspired me to become better person in the ‘Eyes’ of Allah swt.
It was around 14:15 hours, we went to the nearest road outside the Masjid complex. After walking nearly 100 meters, I saw a young man at his early 30s’ stood beside his nice looking yellow cab. I smiled and greeted him, “Assalammualaikum”. He responded to my ‘salam’ – greeting in Islam accompanied by his sincere smile. I asked him in English politely, “Could you bring us to Ayub al Ansari?” He replied in English and clarified, “Ayub Sultan?”. I said, “Yes..” “Yes, I can go there”, he replied briefly. I asked to confirm him the rate, in which he agreed for 20 TL. Before I cut the deal, I seek his favor to find me another cab, “Could you help me to find another car, please?” He looked puzzled and asked me back, “Why?” I quickly responded to him while invited him to see the size of my family members. I said, “Friend, there are 7 of us!..I don’t think your cab is enough to accommodate the seven of us, do you?” He was stunned, speechless but after few seconds, he confidently assured me, “No Problem sir!” I asked him back, “Are you sure, there will be no problem with the traffic law?!” “No Problem, …..come in” He replied me short while inviting us into his taxi. Well, true enough, all of us, I mean seven of us plus the driver were inside that saloon car! One could imagine how we squeezed and sardined ourselves for around 15 minutes from the Suleymaniye Masjid to the Ayub Al Ansari complex.
Alhamdullillah, we arrived safely at the junction of the Eyub Sultan locality around 14:45 hours, few minutes before prayer call for solatul ‘Asar was made. The complex was already crowded with foreigners and mainly locals who usually gathered here during Friday for many noble reasons.

In general, the Turks are very hospitable, discipline, kind, and good-looking people. This is one of the reasons, why their country, despite lacking of mineral resources, etc. is very well developed, organised, economically and politically stable.

This is the place where one of the prominent Sahabah of the great Prophet Muhammad saw (peace be upon him), Abu Ayub Al Ansari body was buried. After the conquest of Constantinople, a tomb was constructed above Abu Ayub ra's purported grave and a Masjid was built in his honor. The locality has become a sacred locality and many Ottoman officials requested burial in proximity of Abu Ayub ra.

The area was slightly different from Taksim or other tourist area in Istanbul. One would see the true Islamic Turkey here. There were many restaurants, shop lots selling Islamic items and accessories. The buildings around the Masjid were unique and different. What impressed us was the hospitality of the people; the whole area was very cleaned, pleasant, and well maintained.

The fountain in these photos is not only pulling the visitors but also pigeons. Awesome.

Abu Ayub Al Ansari was born in Yathrib belong to the Banu Najjar tribe. When Prophet Muhammad saw (peace be upon him) arrived in Medina after weeks crossing the rocky desert during the emigration in 622 C.E., Abu Ayub ra’s house was chosen by the Prophet for his temporary accommodation. Some claimed that he stayed with Abu Ayub ra for seven months. Abu Ayub ra was so proud that he wanted to stay forever with the great Prophet. However, due to the obligation of all Muslim to bring people to the path of Allah swt as shown by His Prophet Muhammad saw (peace be upon him), he obediently went to Egypt and Constantinople or no known as Istanbul to spread Islam. He joined all the wars and always stood side by side with Rasullullah saw (peace be upon him). It is said by many scholars that, out of 124,000 Prophet Muhammad saw (peace be upon him) Sahabah Radiyallah hu Ajmain, only about 10,000 were buried in the Hijjaz land.

Visiting this place is always in my dream and thus, being in the complex is just like another dream come true. The Masjid complex was very crowded with both men and women preparing for ‘Asar congregation. I braved myself to the tomb area located behind the Masjid. After the spending 5 minutes in the queue, Alhamdulillah, I was in front of the great Sahabah ra’s tomb! Tears shed out from my eyes. I recited the verse of Al Fatihah while recalling the story about his sacrifice, passion, and his determination towards the success of Islam. I saw many people could not hold their tears as well, which I believe due to their love and respect to one of the Prophet Muhammad saw (peace be upon him) closest Sahabah ra.

Following the Muslim conquest of Egypt, Abu Ayub ra moved to a house in Fustat adjacent to the Amr bin Al'aas Masjid, which was completed in 642 CE. Several other notable Sahabah ra, including Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, Ubaida, Abu Zar, Abdullah ibn Umar and Abdullah ibn Amr bin Al'aa were his neighbors.

He also led a distinguished military career. Of him it was said, He did not stay away from any battle the Muslims fought from the time of Prophet Muhammad saw (peace be upon him) to the time of Muawiyah unless he was engaged at the same time in another.

The above photo shows the some of the thousands of visitors in the long queue waiting for their turn to enter the shrine that houses the tomb of Abu Ayub al Ansari ra.

The front part of the Abu Ayub al Ansari ra Masjid and on the left of the above photo, you could see the trunk of the tree planted by Sultan

The tomb is inside the inner wall and could be seen through several grilled windows and doors. Visitors are not allowed to enter inside this chamber.

Abu Ayub Al Ansari ra is among the notables listed as accompanying Yazid, Muawiyah’s son against the Byzantines of Contantinople. He was an old man – about 95 years old, but that did not prevent him from enlisting. After a short time engaged in battle, he fell ill and had to withdraw. Yazid ra came to him and asked: "Do you need anything, Abu Ayub?" To which Abu Ayub ra replied, "Convey my salam (Islamic greeting) to the Muslim armies and tell them: "Abu Ayub ra urges you to penetrate deeply into the territory of the enemy as far as you can go, that you should carry him with you and that you should bury him under your feet at the walls of Constantinople." Then he breathed his last. The Muslim army fulfilled his request and pushed back the enemy's forces until they reached the walls of Constantinople where Abu Ayub ra was buried. If not because of his determination and his passion towards the religious work, there will be less people in that hemisphere embrace Islam since then.

It is always the great Prophet Muhammad saw (peace be upon him)’s vision that, the last person born in this world is Muslim who will bear witness that there is no god but Allah swt and Muhammad saw (peace be upon him) is His Messenger. Thus, this is our duty as a Muslim to put our efforts to achieve the vision.
While all of us admiring the surrounding, which were crowded with people, Nana performed her Zuhur – ‘Asar prayer in the Eyub Sultan Masjid. Well, lucky her.

We left the locality with much hesitant and mixed feeling though, my little knowledge about this Sahabi – Ayub Al Ansari ra and his tomb reminded me about the importance of ‘khruj fisabillillah’ or making efforts while sacrificing our wealth and time to the path of Allah swt. Before we moved our foot out from this scared place, we took our last shot with the background of Ayub Al Ansari Masjid for our future remembrance. Al Fatihah.We went to the taxi stand for our next item in the list – Taksim Square.