عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: كَانَ مَوْضِعُ مَسْجِدِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِبَنِي النَّجَّارِ وَكَانَ فِيهِ نَخْلٌ وَخَرِبٌ وَقُبُورٌ مِنْ قُبُورِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ((ثَامِنُونِي)) فَقَالُوا: لَا نَبْغِي بِهِ ثَمَنًا إِلَّا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، فَأَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِالنَّخْلِ فَقُطِّعَ وَبِالْحَرْثِ فَأُفْسِدَ وَبِالْقُبُورِ فَنُبِشَتْ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ يُصَلِّي فِي مَرَابِضِ الْغَنَمِ حَيْثُ أَدْرَكَتْهُ الصَّلَاةُ
Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the place of Masjid Nabawi was owned by Banu Najjar, and there were date palm trees and graves from the time of ignorance, and some part was deserted. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to them: Make a deal with me for its price. But they said that we will take its price only from Allah Almighty. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered regarding the date palm trees, so they were cut down, and regarding the cultivation, so it was cleared, and regarding the graves, so they were dug up. Before this, wherever prayer time would find you, you would perform it there, even in the sheep pens.