He is Abu Ayyoob Al-Ansari Khalid ibn Zayd . He was the grandson of Malik ibn An-Najjar and his mother was Hind bint Sa‘eed. The Prophet made him the brother of Mus‘ab ibn ‘Umayr . He witnessed the Second Pledge of Al-‘Aqabah.
After a long journey in which the Prophet migrated from Makkah to Madeenah, crowds of Muslims in Madeenah went out to receive the Prophet . They gathered around his she-camel trying to take hold of its reins in order to host him. The Prophet said to them: “Leave it (the she-camel)! It is commanded!” [Al-Bayhaqi]
The procession of the Prophet continued on its way passing by the Hayy (district) of the Banu Sa‘idah, the Banu Al-Harith and the Banu ‘Adiyy. From each district, some people tried to obstruct the way of the she-camel hoping that they would be honored by hosting the Prophet in their homes. Each time, the Prophet said to them: “Leave it (the she-camel)! It is commanded!” [Al-Bayhaqi]
It was the Decree of Allah The Almighty Alone which chose the place where the Prophet stayed because this place would have a great status. Over that place, the mosque which radiates rays of guidance and light illuminating the whole universe would be built. Beside that mosque, the Prophet would live in humble rooms.
Before the house of Malik ibn An-Najjar, the she-camel knelt down, then stood, went around the place and then returned to the first place. The Prophet dismounted his camel feeling joyful. One of the Muslims, Abu Ayyoob who was overwhelmed by delight, headed to the Prophet carried the luggage into his home and asked the Prophet to enter.
Abu Ayyoob had a two-storey house. The Prophet chose to stay on the first floor. Abu Ayyoob stayed on the upper floor. However, he could not sleep that night because he could not imagine that he was sleeping in a place that was higher than the place of the Prophet . In the night, water wetted the ground of Abu Ayyoob . So, he and his wife wiped it with their cover lest the water should drop on the Prophet .
In the morning, Abu Ayyoob went to the Prophet and beseeched him to stay on the upper floor. The Prophet responded to his request. The Prophet remained in the house of Abu Ayyoob until the building of his mosque was finished where a room was built for him by the mosque.
Abu Ayyoob liked Jihad. Since witnessing the Second Pledge of Al-‘Aqabah until the middle of the first century after Hijrah, he led an eventful life of continuous Jihad. He was never reluctant or lazy to join a battle. He witnessed all the battles with the Prophet . He never remained behind any battle with the Muslims except a battle where the commander of the Muslim army was a young man with whom Abu Ayyoob was not satisfied. However, after a while, Abu Ayyoob regretted his stance and said, “The one who is appointed as my commander does not know me.” Then, he went out and joined the army.
Despite the fact that he was more than eighty years, he responded to the caller for Jihad to go to Constantinople. He carried his sword on his shoulder and said, “Allah The Almighty Ordered us to go for Jihad in every situation. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Go forth, whether light or heavy} [Quran 9:41]”
Abu Ayyoob was injured during this battle. When the commander of the army, Yazeed ibn Mu‘awiyah, visited him and asked him about his need, Abu Ayyoob said, “When I die, carry me and bury me in the land of the enemy.” He added, “I will narrate to you a Hadeeth that I heard from the Prophet : ‘Whoever dies without associating any partner with Allah will enter Paradise.’ [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]”
His wish was fulfilled. In the morning, the Romans said to the Muslims, “Something great happened to you last night.” The Muslims said, “One of the greatest Companions of our Prophet who was among the early people to embrace Islam, died yesterday and we buried him where you saw us. By Allah, if you disturb his grave, you will never be allowed to practice your rites in the Arab lands as long as we rule them.” The Romans used to take care of the grave and visit it.
He was ascetic and did not like extravagance or luxury. Once he visited a Muslim and found him decorating his home with curtains. He nodded his head in disapproval and left them. He was one of the devout worshippers at night and a brave fighter during the day.
He loved Jihad and wished for martyrdom. He remained in this state until he met his Lord after a hard life that he spent as a soldier relinquishing attachment to the worldly life. He went forth with his self and property to the east and the west to free people from worshipping people to worship the Lord of people and to lead a happy life in Islam.