The place where the Prophet’s camel bent its knees was purchased for ten diners for the construction of the mosque. All the Muslims participated in its construction and in providing materials for it, and even the Prophet collected stones along with others. Usayd bin Huzayr went forward and said: “O Prophet of Allah! Permit me to carry it (the stone)”.
The Prophet said: “Go and bring another”. In this manner he showed a glimpse of his sublime character. He said: “I am a practical man. I am a man of action and not of words only”. On that occasion Muslim read out a couplet meaning: “If we sit and the Prophet works, it will be a source of deviation and adversity for us”.
While engaged in work the Prophet and the Muslims uttered these sentences: “Real life is the life of the Hereafter. O Allah! Be kind to the Ansar and the Muhajirs”.
Uthman bin Maz’un was very particular about the neatness of his dress and wished to keep it clean. He did not therefore, participate in the construction of the mosque, lest his dress should become soiled. Ali criticized him in these words: “A person who constructs a mosque, whether sitting or standing, constantly endeavours for its progress is not like him, who keeps away from dust and is not prepared to stain his clothes for constructing the mosque”.1
‘Ammar Yasir, who was a strong man, collected some stones and carried them for the construction of the mosque. Some persons took undue advantage of his simplicity and loaded on him stones, which were too heavy for him.
He was heard saying: “I am carrying one stone on my own behalf and the other on behalf of the Prophet”. One day the Prophet saw him bearing a heavy burden, when three stones had been loaded on him. ‘Ammar complained: “Your companions nurse ill-will against me and want to kill me. They themselves bring one stone each but load as many as three on me”.
The Prophet held him by the hand, cleansed the dust on his back, and uttered this historical sentence: “They are not your murderers. You will be killed by a group of oppressors while you will be inviting them to truth and reality”