Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would carry the bricks together with the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) while reciting the following words:

هذا الحمال لا حمال خيبر     هذا أبر ربنا وأطهر

“These loads are not the loads of (the dates of) Khaybar! O our Rabb, these loads are far more virtuous and excellent (than the loads of dates in Khaybar)!”

At times, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would recite the following:

اللّٰهم إن الأجر أجر الآخره     فارحم الأنصار والمهاجره

“O Allah! Undoubtedly, the real reward is the reward of the Hereafter. So shower Your mercy upon the Muhaajireen and the Ansaar (who are only seeking the reward of the Hereafter)!”

According to another narration, the words recited were the following:

اللّٰهم لاخير إلا خير الآخره     فانـصر الأنصار والمهاجره

“O Allah! There is no goodness besides the goodness of the Hereafter. So assist the Muhaajireen and the Ansaar (who are only desiring the goodness of the Hereafter)!”

As for the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), then they were reciting the following:

لئن قعدنا والنبي يعمل     لذاك من العمل المضلل

“If we sit while Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) works and toils, then this action of ours (of sitting) will be extremely detestable (in the sight of Allah Ta‘ala)!”

Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was reciting the following couplets:

لايستوي من يعمر المساجدا

يدأب فيها قائما و قاعدا

ومن يرى عن التراب حائدا

“The one who toils tirelessly in the erection of the musjid while standing and sitting can never be equated to the one who protects his clothing from dust.”

Among those carrying bricks was Hazrat Uthmaan bin Maz’oon (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). He was, by nature, a neat and clean person, and the qualities of neatness and cleanliness were in his temperament to a large degree. Whenever he would carry the bricks, he would hold them away from his clothing, and the moment a speck of dust would come onto his clothing, he would immediately dust it off.

Therefore, Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) would humorously chant the words “the one who protects his clothing from dust” to Hazrat Uthmaan bin Maz’oon (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).

It would not be surprising to learn that perhaps, even while conducting humorously and light-heartedly, Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was also indicating towards the point that in such circumstances, dust and dirt is far superior to neatness and cleanliness, as it is mentioned in the Hadith that a haaji is he who has dishevelled hair and is dirty.

Hazrat Talq bin Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports: Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) instructed me to mix the mortar. Taking a shovel in hand, I got up to mix the mortar.

He also asked, “O Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! Shall I not carry the bricks as well?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “No, you should rather stick to mixing mortar, as you are skilled and proficient in this work.”

(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/425-427)