THE FOUNDATION OF SUFFA AND ITS RESIDENTS

The Prophet deemed the need for an education of institution significant following his Hijra to Medina and alloted a part next to the masjid to this duty.

Those seeking shelter in Suffa constituted people who migrated from different places of Arabic peninsula where they could not conduct their lives in the Islamic manner. .These students, subject to a regular learning, were called as “ashab al-suffa” or “ahl al-suffa” because the place allotted to them were named as “suffa.” 

The number of Ahl al-Suffa was not always stable for there would be frequent guests arriving in Medina to visit the Prophet and to learn the principles of Islam. Those getting married abadoned the Suffa to live in their own homes. .

The number of students sometimes reached 400 together with the non-residing people among whom were the well-known companions such as Talha ibn Ubaydullah, Abu Said al-Hudri, Abu Hurairah, Abu Zar al-Gifari, Bilal  al-Habashi (Bilal the Ethiopian or Bilal ibn Ribah), Abdullah ibn Umar, Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud and Bara ibn Malik.