Arrival in Qubaa

Fourteen years after becoming a prophet, on a Monday, the Prophet arrived in Qubaa on the outskirts of Yathrib. The people of Yathrib (which was later named Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, the City of Light) had long awaited the Prophet , and each day they would go to Hira and wait for him until the sun became unberable. One day, the people returned to their homes after waiting a long time for the Prophet . A Jew happened to catch a glimpse of a small group of white-robed travellers in the distance. He called out, “O people of Arabia! What you have been waiting for has arrived!”

The Muslims lifted their weapons and rushed to greet the Prophet . There was a great trumult as everyone ran to the edge of the desert to catch a glimpse of the travellers. The Prophet then turned towards the right and came to Banu Amr bin Auf Qubaa.

After reaching Qubaa, the Prophet dismounted and sat in silence. Now those of the Ansar (literally the supporters, the name given to those in Al-Madenah who became Muslim) who had not seen the Prophet thought that Abu Bakr was the prophet because his hair had turned a little gray. But when they saw Abu Bakr shade the Prophet with a sheet, they realised their mistake.

The Prophet stayed at Qubaa in the house of Kulthoom bin Hadam. Other sources, however say that he stayed in the house of Sa’d bin Khathima. He stayed there for four days, during which time he laid the foundation of Qubaa Mosque. That Friday he left Qubaa with Abu Bakr . He sent a message to Banu Najjar, the house of his maternal grandfather, His kinsmen came to Qubaa with their swords hanging from their sides, and joined the Prophet on his way to Madinah. When he arrived at the settlement of Banu Salim bin Auf, it was time to perform the Friday congregational prayer. The Prophet led a hundred Muslims in prayer.