The Companions' Love for Knowledge and Their Sales

The people of Suffa are the poor and homeless Muslims who resided in the covered section (Suffa) on the north side of the Prophet's Mosque. Some of them were immigrants without families in Medina, while others were orphans who came from their homelands to learn knowledge. According to the information provided, the people of Suffa spent their nights praying, reading the Quran, and attending lessons; during the day, they carried water, collected and sold firewood to buy food with that money. This depiction reflects one of the strongest examples of dedication to knowledge in human history. The number of people in Suffa varied between 70 and 400; at times, the Prophet Muhammad, the companions, or visitors would benefit from their donations. Abu Huraira was the most famous member of this community. The Prophet was concerned about the people of Suffa; sometimes he personally distributed food to them or directed the companions to host them. This place symbolizes the location where the first center of knowledge in Islamic civilization was established. [Source: TDV Islamic Encyclopedia, "Suffa" article, islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/suffe; Ibn Sa'd, et-Tabakāt, I, 255, III, 514; Bukhari, Rikāk 17]