The Chishti Nizami Habibi Soofie
Sufi Order
Pietermaritzburg
Kwa Zulu Natal
South Africa
Ashab As-Suffah
In the Masjid of Rasulullah (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) in Madinah the Illuminated, there is an elevated platform called Suffah. Many Muslims had come to Madinah because of their love for Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and they used to live on this platform. They were called Ashab as-Suffah (People of the Platform).
They had no families and were very poor. They spent their nights reading the Qur'aan and worshipping Allah. During the day, they studied Islam with Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and other learned Sahaba (Radiallahu anhu ajmain). They spent part of the day doing odd jobs to earn a living.
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) loved them. He would not eat until they were fed. He shared whatever he had with them. He taught them about the love of Allah and His religion, Islam.
Their numbers varied from seventy to four -hundred. Even though there was scarcely any food and no comforts, they never complained. Their love for Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) ) and an opportunity to learn Islam were sufficient to make them forget their hardships.