A Day in the Life of Prophet Muhammad(SAW)

In the Orchards in Madinah

On some of his visits, the Prophet might go to some orchards

in Madinah, to relax and enjoy the shade there. He would meet

there some of his closest companions. For example, he used to go

to a garden called Bayruha', which belonged to Abu Talhah alAnsari.

He would go there, sit in the shade and drink its refreshing

water. It used to face the mosque from its northern side. It is no

longer in existence, as it was part of the extension of the Prophet's

mosque.

He might at times go to other orchards belonging to the Ansar.

Abu Hurayrah reports on one such occasion: "We were seated

around God's messenger, and with us were Abu Bakr, 'Umar and

others. The Prophet left us and went away. His absence was long,

and we feared that something unpleasant might have happened to

him. We were really worried, so we rose. I was the first to worry. I,

therefore, went out looking for the Prophet. I reached an orchard

belonging to the Ansar. I went around it, trying to find its door, but

there was none. There was a little stream going into the garden

from a well outside. I drew myself together so that I could go in

through that opening, just like a fox would do. I went in and found

God's messenger there. He said: "Abu Hurayrah!" I said: "Yes,

messenger of God. He gave me his shoes and said: "Take my shoes

and go out. Whoever you meet outside this orchard who declares

that 'there is no deity other than God', firmly believing in it, then

give him the happy news that he will be in heaven. "

When he went to Quba', he might go to the Aris well, which is

situated to the west of the Quba' mosque. It is the well in which the

Prophet's ring fell during the reign of the third Caliph, ·u thman,

and could not be recovered. Muslim generations and Mu slim states

preserved the well for many centuries, but it was buried in our

modern times. Abu Musa al-Ash 'ari reports:

God's messenger went into the place of the Aris well. I,

therefore, sat at the door which was made of dried date

branches, until he had relieved himself and then performed

his ablutions. I went up to him to find him sitting at the Aris well, on the short wall at its top, with his legs bare up

to his knees. His legs were to the inside of the well. He had

a stick in his hand with which he mixed water with the mud.

I greeted him and left him to sit at the door. I thought that I

would be God's messenger's doorman on that day, although

he did not order me to do so. Abu Bakr came and requested

permission to come in. The Prophet said to me: "Admit

him and give him the news that he will be in heaven." He

thanked and praised God before entering. He sat on the

short wall to the Prophet's right. ' Umar then came and

requested permission to come in. The Prophet said to me:

"Admit him and give him the news that he will be in

heaven. " He thanked and praised God before entering. He

sat on the short wall to the Prophet's left. ' Uthman was the

next one to come. He requested permission to come in. The

Prophet said to me: "Admit him and give him the news that

he will be in heaven after he had been through great

hardship." I went up to him and said: "Come in. God's

messenger gives you the news that you will be in heaven,

but you will go through great hardship." He said: "I pray for

God's help. My Lord, enable me to pers evere in adversity."

He entered, but he found that the short wall was taken. He

sat on the other side, facing them.

The Prophet's visits to the orchards of Madinah were for the

purpose of relaxation, seeking to s tay in the shade in the very hot

climate o f Madinah. Such visits gave him some refreshment and

renewed s trength to carry on with his daily tasks. Besides, they

brought much happiness to the owners who were very happy to

receive the Prophet in their own orchard s . They realized that his

presence brought blessings into their orchards, as he was blessed

wherever he happened to be.