After purchasing the land from the Ansaari, Hazrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) presented himself before Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and said, “O Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! The plot of land which you wished to purchase from the Ansaari in exchange of a palace in Jannah - please purchase the land from me (in exchange of the same palace in Jannah which you promised the Ansaari).”

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) purchased this plot from Hazrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) in exchange of a palace in Jannah, and incorporated this plot of land into the musjid.

When commencing the construction, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) placed the first brick with his own blessed hand, and thereafter, on his instruction, the next brick was placed by Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), and then by Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), followed by Hazrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), and then by Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), who embraced Islam in the year 7AH, also joined them in this reconstruction of the musjid. Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) himself reports:

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was carrying bricks together with the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum). Once, on coming in front of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), I saw that he was carrying many bricks and was supporting them on his chest. I thought that he was holding them close to his chest because of their substantial weight, and I thus submitted, “O Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! Hand them over to me, I will carry them!”

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied:

خذ غيرها يا أبا هريرة فإنه لا عيش إلا عيش الآخرة

Take another load (of bricks), O Abu Hurairah, as there is no life but the life of the Hereafter.’”

(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/428-430)