Abū Khaythamah's Two Huts

Another of the Companions was an Anṣārī, a man of the Anṣār, named Abū Khaythamah. When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and the Muslims left, he was still in Madīnah. He went back home, and he had two ʿarīsh. An ʿarīsh is a hut made from twigs, and in summer, when one pours water on this hut, it becomes very comfortable and cool inside, because air can come through, and when it is soaked with water it is natural air conditioning. So he had these two huts, and there was one of his wives in each hut, and they had prepared food and cold water for him. So he came in and saw this, and then he said: the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is in the hot weather and the wind, and Abū Khaythamah is in cool shade, with food prepared, and with a beautiful wife. This is not fair. By Allah, I am not going to enter either of these huts until I follow the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him); so prepare my provisions.

So they prepared his provisions for him, and he took one of his camels and followed the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). He only caught up with them when they were at Tabūk, and he came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and told him what had happened, so the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) made duʿāʾ for him. A reflection on this story of Abū Khaythamah: the way Abū Khaythamah saw things in Madīnah is pretty much how we are — and we are in an even better situation.