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These Companions rarely took to trade or farming, and when they did it was only as a
means to an end. Instead, they preferred to devote their lives to prayer and spiritual
discipline under the guidance of the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam). These people
had neither wives nor children, however marriage was not forbidden to them like the
monks of Christianity.

The Suffa, better known as Sufi, contented themselves with the bare necessities of life;
as a means of support they would also be seen gathering bundles of firewood and

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selling it in order to feed themselves and their companions. They were extremely poor
and none could afford two garments, instead they would wear a single piece of cloth
fastened at the neck that reached a little above the knee. Whenever the Prophet (salla
Allahu alihi wa sallam) received a charitable gift of food, he would divide it amongst them
and encourage his followers to feed them, however the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa
sallam) never accepted charity for himself, whereas he would accept gifts.