THE OCCUPATION OF ASHAB AL-SUFFA

The disciples coming together in the Suffa were taught the Quran, reading-writing, traditions and religious knowledge. These students used the allotted part for them to rest and to study as well as benefiting from the masjid as a classroom. Their teachers were primarily the Prophet and the companions.

Ahl al-Suffa were among the leaders of the Islamic community in terms of memorizing the incoming verses and the traditions of the Prophet. While Muhajirs (immigrants) occupied themselves with commerce and Ansar (residents of Medina) dealt with agriculture, the Suffa-dwellers would not leave the side of the Prophet, they would hear what others could not and they would see what others could not. Muslims, who were not able to spend as much time with the Prophet because of their occupation, got acquainted with the new developments and knowledge by means of Ahl al-Suffa.

Many of Ahl al-Suffa devoted themselves to the spiritual-moral life; they occupied themselves with worship at night, fasting and the study of religious sciences during the day. So while these companions occupied themselves with learning Islam on the one hand, on the other, they tried to conduct their lives in accordance with it and as such became the object of Prophet’s affection.