In this manner, the camel continued walking until it came to the locality of the Banu Najjaar clan (the maternal relatives of Rasulullah [sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam]) where, without any prompting, it halted right at the spot where the door of Musjid-un-Nabawi would be. However, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) did not dismount.

A few moments later, the camel got up and proceeded to sit down at the door of the home of Hazrat Abu Ayyoob Ansaari (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). Thereafter, a little while later, it again arose and proceeded to sit at the first location where it lowered its head onto the ground.

At this moment, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) dismounted from the camel, and Hazrat Abu Ayyoob (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) carried his luggage into the house.

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had also felt a natural inclination to reside in the locality of the Banu Najjaar clan as they were his maternal relatives. Najjaar was the uncle (mother’s brother) of Abdul Muttalib, Rasulullah’s (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) grandfather. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) also wished to honour them by residing in their home.

However, Allah Ta‘ala fulfilled this desire of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in a miraculous manner. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was made to let the reins of the camel hang loose so that it appeared to all that he had no say in the direction the camel took, and so that it would be known that he did not personally choose any home to settle in.

This was done to ensure that the hearts of his ardent lovers and devotees remain free from any form of personal rivalry and contention, and so that they understand that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) himself had no part in this decision. Rather, the camel was divinely commanded by Allah Ta‘ala. It would halt wherever it was directed to halt. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was merely awaiting for Allah Ta‘ala’s signal.

In this manner, Allah Ta‘ala fulfilled the desire of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), and in regard to the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), Allah Ta‘ala also made the decision of where Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would stay take place in a miraculous manner, so that through the blessing of this miracle, all their hearts would remain free of rivalry, jealousy, malice and ill-feelings. All of them realised that the selection of the home of Hazrat Abu Ayyoob Ansaari (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was not of his own accord, rather it was pre-ordained by Allah Ta‘ala.

ذٰلِكَ فَضْلُ اللهِ يُؤْتِيْهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيْمِ

 That is the bounty of Allah which He bestows to whomsoever He wishes, and Allah is the Possessor of great bounty. (Surah Jumu’ah v. 4)

(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/ 407-408)