Aqdam أقدام

Companion of the Prophet ﷺ

أبو أيوب الأنصاري

رضي الله عنه

Abu Ayyub al-Ansari

Khalid ibn Zayd ibn Kulayb al-Najjari al-Ansari

The Ansari whose home received the Prophet on his arrival in Medina; a Badr veteran who kept striving until death at the walls of Constantinople.

  • Host of the Prophet in Medina
  • Standard-bearer of the Prophet
A day in his footsteps
  • KunyaAbu Ayyub
  • Family and tribeBanu al-Najjar (Khazraj), the Ansar
  • BornNot recorded (a grown man at the Hijrah, 622 CE)
  • Diedc. 674 CE / c. 52 AH (outside the walls of Constantinople)
  • Resting placeBeside the walls of Constantinople (modern Istanbul)
  • Counted amongAnsar

Introduction

Abu Ayyub, born Khalid ibn Zayd, was a man of the Banu al-Najjar in Medina. He pledged himself to the Prophet at Aqabah before the Hijrah and, when the Prophet reached Medina, the Prophet's she-camel stopped in front of his house, making Abu Ayyub the first host of the Messenger of Allah in the city.

He fought in Badr and the other major battles, carried the Prophet's trust in daily life, and was known for modesty, good manners, and a concern to ask about what was lawful. After the Prophet's death he became a respected narrator, travelling widely to teach and to take part in expeditions.

In old age he went out once more with the army heading for Constantinople. He fell ill there, asked to be buried as far into enemy land as the army could take him, and was buried by the city walls. His grave in Istanbul is still visited today.

The story

  1. Before the Hijrah

    Pledged allegiance to the Prophet at al-Aqabah, with the Ansar of Yathrib.

  2. 1 AH / 622 CE, Medina

    The Prophet stayed at his house on first arrival in Medina, until the mosque and rooms were built.

    Read the wording
    Jami at-Tirmidhi 1807Sahih
    Arabic text

    يَقُولُ نَزَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى أَبِي أَيُّوبَ وَكَانَ إِذَا أَكَلَ طَعَامًا بَعَثَ إِلَيْهِ بِفَضْلِهِ فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهِ يَوْمًا بِطَعَامٍ وَلَمْ يَأْكُلْ مِنْهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمَّا أَتَى أَبُو أَيُّوبَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ" فِيهِ ثُومٌ". فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَحَرَامٌ هُوَ قَالَ" لاَ وَلَكِنِّي أَكْرَهُهُ …

    “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was staying with Abu Ayyub”

    Grade: Sahih (Ahmad Muhammad Shakir); Sahih (Al-Albani)

  3. 2 AH / 624 CE

    Fought at Badr and in the battles that followed.

  4. After the Prophet's death

    Taught hadith, travelled for jihad, and was with Ali in his caliphate.

  5. c. 52 AH / c. 674 CE

    Died in the campaign near Constantinople and was buried by its walls.

    Read the wording
    Jami at-Tirmidhi 2972Sahih
    Arabic text

    … اللَّهُ عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَرُدُّ عَلَيْنَا مَا قُلْنَا:(وَأَنْفِقُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلاَ تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ) فَكَانَتِ التَّهْلُكَةُ الإِقَامَةَ عَلَى الأَمْوَالِ وَإِصْلاَحَهَا وَتَرَكْنَا الْغَزْوَ فَمَا زَالَ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ شَاخِصًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ حَتَّى دُفِنَ بِأَرْضِ الرُّومِ. قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ …

    “Abu Ayyub did not cease traveling in Allah's cause, until he was buried in the land of the Romans”

    Grade: Sahih (Ahmad Muhammad Shakir); Sahih (Al-Albani)

A day in their footsteps

7 small, repeatable practices from Abu Ayyub al-Ansari's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.

  1. Hosting the Prophet with care

    Abu Ayyub had the Prophet stay in his house in Medina, and both he and his wife Umm Ayyub prepared food and watched the Prophet's preferences carefully. When the Prophet left a dish, Abu Ayyub immediately went to ask whether it was forbidden.

    Try this today

    Receive your guests warmly, and ask what pleases them rather than assuming.

    Sit with this

    How might you learn what truly pleases the guests you host?

    Sources

    Jami at-Tirmidhi 1807Sahih

    … صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى أَبِي أَيُّوبَ وَكَانَ إِذَا أَكَلَ طَعَامًا بَعَثَ إِلَيْهِ بِفَضْلِهِ فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهِ يَوْمًا بِطَعَامٍ وَلَمْ يَأْكُلْ مِنْهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمَّا أَتَى أَبُو أَيُّوبَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ" فِيهِ ثُومٌ". فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَحَرَامٌ هُوَ قَالَ" لاَ وَلَكِنِّي أَكْرَهُهُ مِنْ أَجْلِ رِيحِهِ". قَالَ …

    “When he ate some food, he would send what was left to him”

    Grade: Sahih (Ahmad Muhammad Shakir); Sahih (Al-Albani)

    Jami at-Tirmidhi 1810Hasan

    أَنَّ أُمَّ أَيُّوبَ، أَخْبَرَتْهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَزَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَتَكَلَّفُوا لَهُ طَعَامًا فِيهِ مِنْ بَعْضِ هَذِهِ الْبُقُولِ فَكَرِهَ أَكْلَهُ فَقَالَ لأَصْحَابِهِ " كُلُوهُ فَإِنِّي لَسْتُ كَأَحَدِكُمْ إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَنْ أُوذِيَ صَاحِبِي". قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ غَرِيبٌ. وَأُمُّ أَيُّوبَ هِيَ امْرَأَةُ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ.

    “they prepared some food for him”

    Grade: Hasan (Ahmad Muhammad Shakir); Hasan (Al-Albani)

  2. Asking about what is lawful

    When the Prophet sent food back untouched, he went to ask directly whether it was unlawful, and learned that it was only a matter of the Prophet's personal dislike for the smell.

    Try this today

    Ask instead of guessing about halal and haram, and take the answer as given.

    Sit with this

    What question about halal and haram have you been answering by guesswork?

    Source

    Jami at-Tirmidhi 1807Sahih

    … وَكَانَ إِذَا أَكَلَ طَعَامًا بَعَثَ إِلَيْهِ بِفَضْلِهِ فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهِ يَوْمًا بِطَعَامٍ وَلَمْ يَأْكُلْ مِنْهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمَّا أَتَى أَبُو أَيُّوبَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ" فِيهِ ثُومٌ". فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَحَرَامٌ هُوَ قَالَ" لاَ وَلَكِنِّي أَكْرَهُهُ مِنْ أَجْلِ رِيحِهِ". قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ …

    “O Messenger of Allah! Is it unlawful?”

    Grade: Sahih (Ahmad Muhammad Shakir); Sahih (Al-Albani)

  3. Correcting himself immediately when he learned a ruling

    He narrated the Prophet's command not to face or turn one's back to the qibla when relieving oneself. When he later found bathrooms facing the qibla in Syria, he turned and asked Allah's forgiveness.

    Try this today

    When you learn that a habit is wrong, change it immediately and ask Allah for forgiveness.

    Sit with this

    What would it take to change a habit the very day you learn it is wrong?

    Source

    Sahih al-Bukhari 394Sahih

    … صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِذَا أَتَيْتُمُ الْغَائِطَ فَلاَ تَسْتَقْبِلُوا الْقِبْلَةَ وَلاَ تَسْتَدْبِرُوهَا، وَلَكِنْ شَرِّقُوا أَوْ غَرِّبُوا". قَالَ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ فَقَدِمْنَا الشَّأْمَ فَوَجَدْنَا مَرَاحِيضَ بُنِيَتْ قِبَلَ الْقِبْلَةِ، فَنَنْحَرِفُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى. وَعَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنْ عَطَاءٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا أَيُّوبَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم …

    “we turned ourselves while using them and asked for Allah's forgiveness”

    Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)

  4. Fasting six days of Shawwal after Ramadan

    He narrated that fasting Ramadan and then six days in Shawwal is like a perpetual fast, and he is the key source of this sunnah.

    Try this today

    After Eid, fast six days of Shawwal as a way to keep the Ramadan habit alive.

    Sit with this

    How could you carry something of Ramadan into the weeks after Eid?

    Sources

    Sunan Abi Dawud 2433Sahih

    قَالَ " مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ بِسِتٍّ مِنْ شَوَّالٍ فَكَأَنَّمَا صَامَ الدَّهْرَ".

    “If anyone fasts during Ramadan, then follows it with six days in Shawwal”

    Grade: Sahih (Al-Albani); Sahih (Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid)

    Jami at-Tirmidhi 759Hasan Sahih

    … وَقَدْ تَكَلَّمَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْحَدِيثِ فِي سَعْدِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ مِنْ قِبَلِ حِفْظِهِ. حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْجُعْفِيُّ عَنْ إِسْرَائِيلَ أَبِي مُوسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ الْبَصْرِيِّ قَالَ كَانَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ عِنْدَهُ صِيَامُ سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ شَوَّالٍ فَيَقُولُ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ بِصِيَامِ هَذَا الشَّهْرِ عَنِ السَّنَةِ …

    “Whoever fasts Ramadan, then follows it with six from Shawwal”

    Grade: Hasan Sahih (Ahmad Muhammad Shakir); Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani)

  5. Reciting Surat al-Ikhlas

    He narrated that reciting Surah al-Ikhlas equals a third of the Quran, as the Prophet asked: 'Would one of you like to recite a third of the Qur'an during a night?'

    Try this today

    Recite Surat al-Ikhlas every night as a gentle, easy habit.

    Sit with this

    Could Surat al-Ikhlas be the last thing you recite every night?

    Source

    Jami at-Tirmidhi 2896Sahih

    … سَعِيدٍ وَقَتَادَةَ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَأَنَسٍ وَابْنِ عُمَرَ وَأَبِي مَسْعُودٍ. قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ وَلاَ نَعْرِفُ أَحَدًا رَوَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ أَحْسَنَ مِنْ رِوَايَةِ زَائِدَةَ وَتَابَعَهُ عَلَى رِوَايَتِهِ إِسْرَائِيلُ وَالْفُضَيْلُ بْنُ عِيَاضٍ وَقَدْ رَوَى شُعْبَةُ وَغَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ مِنَ الثِّقَاتِ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ وَاضْطَرَبُوا …

    “Would one of you like to recite a third of the Qur'an during a night?”

    Grade: Sahih (Ahmad Muhammad Shakir); Sahih (Al-Albani)

  6. Never leaving off striving for Allah

    He explained that the verse 'do not throw yourselves into destruction' means neglecting striving for the sake of one's wealth. He kept travelling in Allah's cause until his death and burial in the land of the Romans.

    Try this today

    Do not let worldly comfort become an excuse to abandon good work.

    Sit with this

    Has comfort become a reason to stop a good work you once did?

    Source

    Jami at-Tirmidhi 2972Sahih

    … اللَّهُ عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَرُدُّ عَلَيْنَا مَا قُلْنَا:(وَأَنْفِقُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلاَ تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ) فَكَانَتِ التَّهْلُكَةُ الإِقَامَةَ عَلَى الأَمْوَالِ وَإِصْلاَحَهَا وَتَرَكْنَا الْغَزْوَ فَمَا زَالَ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ شَاخِصًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ حَتَّى دُفِنَ بِأَرْضِ الرُّومِ. قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ …

    “Abu Ayyub did not cease traveling in Allah's cause”

    Grade: Sahih (Ahmad Muhammad Shakir); Sahih (Al-Albani)

  7. Not cutting off his brother

    He narrated that it is not lawful for a Muslim to desert his brother for more than three nights, and that the better one is the one who greets first.

    Try this today

    If you are on bad terms with someone, be the first to say salam.

    Sit with this

    Who is waiting for you to be the first to say salam?

    Source

    Sahih al-Bukhari 6077Sahih

    أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ يَحِلُّ لِرَجُلٍ أَنْ يَهْجُرَ أَخَاهُ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثِ لَيَالٍ، يَلْتَقِيَانِ فَيُعْرِضُ هَذَا وَيُعْرِضُ هَذَا، وَخَيْرُهُمَا الَّذِي يَبْدَأُ بِالسَّلاَمِ".

    “the better of the two will be the one who greets the other first”

    Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)

Virtues

  • The Prophet stayed at his house on first reaching Medina.

    “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was staying with Abu Ayyub”

    Arabic text

    يَقُولُ نَزَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى أَبِي أَيُّوبَ وَكَانَ إِذَا أَكَلَ طَعَامًا بَعَثَ إِلَيْهِ بِفَضْلِهِ فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهِ يَوْمًا بِطَعَامٍ وَلَمْ يَأْكُلْ مِنْهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمَّا أَتَى أَبُو أَيُّوبَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ" فِيهِ ثُومٌ". فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَحَرَامٌ هُوَ قَالَ" لاَ وَلَكِنِّي أَكْرَهُهُ …

    Jami at-Tirmidhi 1807Sahih

  • He remained in jihad up to his death and was buried in the land of the Romans.

    “until he was buried in the land of the Romans”

    Arabic text

    … اللَّهُ عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَرُدُّ عَلَيْنَا مَا قُلْنَا:(وَأَنْفِقُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلاَ تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ) فَكَانَتِ التَّهْلُكَةُ الإِقَامَةَ عَلَى الأَمْوَالِ وَإِصْلاَحَهَا وَتَرَكْنَا الْغَزْوَ فَمَا زَالَ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ شَاخِصًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ حَتَّى دُفِنَ بِأَرْضِ الرُّومِ. قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ …

    Jami at-Tirmidhi 2972Sahih

Words on this page

Ansarالأنصار
"The Helpers": the Muslims of Madinah, from the Aws and Khazraj tribes, who welcomed and sheltered the Prophet ﷺ and the emigrants from Makkah.
Aqabahالعقبة
A pass near Mina where people of Madinah pledged allegiance to the Prophet ﷺ before the Hijrah, in two pledges a year apart.
Badrبدر
The first major battle between the Muslims and Quraysh, in 2 AH. Those who fought there hold a special rank among the Companions.
Hadithحديث
A report of what the Prophet ﷺ said, did or approved, passed down through a chain of narrators.
Halal and haramحلال وحرام
What is permitted (halal) and what is forbidden (haram) in Islamic law.
Hijrahالهجرة
The migration of the Prophet ﷺ and the Muslims from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE, the starting point of the Islamic calendar.
Madinahالمدينة
The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.
Qiblahالقبلة
The direction of the Ka'bah in Makkah, which Muslims face in prayer.
Ramadanرمضان
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, in which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset.
Salamسلام
The greeting of peace, "as-salamu alaykum", and its reply.
Shawwalشوال
The month after Ramadan. Fasting six of its days is a Sunnah.
Sunnahالسنة
The way of the Prophet ﷺ: his words, actions and approvals. Also used for a recommended act.
Surahسورة
A chapter of the Quran. There are 114.

The full glossary

Sources and review

Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.

This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.

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