What is “Suffah”?

Al-Ṣuffah (Arabic: الصُّفّة), was a sheltered raised platform that was available at the rear side of the Prophet’s Mosque during the Medina period (622-632) of early Islam. It was initially available at the northeastern corner of the mosque and Muhammad (PBUH) ordered it to be covered by palm leaves in order to provide shade, hence it was called al-Suffah or al-Ẓullah (الظلة) “the shade”. It was moved several decades later into another place in the mosque during an expansion project.

The Suffah was the first official institute of education in Islam. In other words, it constituted the first Islamic ‘university’. So the people of the Suffah were a distinguished community who devoted their lives to the study of sciences and wisdom taught at the school of the Prophet, upon him be peace and blessings.

For instance, three of the companions having narrated the most number of hadiths, namely Abu Hurayrah, Abdullah ibn Umar and Abu Said al-Hudri were among the Companions of the Suffah which demonstrates their close ties to the Prophet. 

In brief, the Suffah was a model and a pioneer home of education in the history of Islam.