1071 – Abū Ahmad Hārūn ibn Yūsuf narrated to us, saying: Ibn Abī Umar narrated to us, saying: Al-Muqri Abd Allah ibn Yazīd narrated to us, saying: Al-Masūdī narrated to us, from Abū Hāzim, from Sahl ibn Sad, who said:

When the people in Medina grew numerous, individuals and groups would come but could scarcely hear the words of the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and had to ask those near him to repeat them. The people therefore said, “O Messenger of Allah, the people have grown numerous, and a newcomer may come yet scarcely hear your words before he must leave. If only you would have something raised above the ground from which you could deliver the sermon, so that the people could hear your words.” He said, “As you wish.”

He then sent for a carpenter who belonged to a woman ⦗1587⦘ of the Ansar and for tamarisk wood from al-Ghāba. They fashioned two steps for him from it. The Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—would sit upon it and deliver sermons from it. When he did so, the piece of wood beside which the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—used to stand cried out in yearning. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—then rose, went over to it, and placed his hand upon it, whereupon it fell silent.