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Al-Ṣuffah (Arabic: الصُّفّة), or Dikkat Ashab As-Suffah (دِكَّة أَصْحَاب الصُّفَّة) was a sheltered raised platform[2] that was available at the rear side of the Prophet's Mosque[2] during the Medina period (622-632) of early Islam. It was initially available at the northeastern corner of the mosque and Muhammad 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.
Homeless and unmarried Muhajirun (companions of the Prophet who migrated from Mecca) who did not have relatives in Medina, dwelt in al-Suffah where they were mainly learning the Quran and Sunnah. These people were called Aṣhab al-Ṣuffah "Companions of the Ṣuffah".