Chapter on Distributing Food and Encouraging Patience in Hunger

In this chapter, it is narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) distributed food to the needy and encouraged patience in times of hunger, despite the blessings God had bestowed upon him in the food he prayed for. The hadith illustrates the Prophet's compassion and justice in feeding the hungry and treating everyone equally.

Hadith Narration

It was narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "If a captive in Badr had approached me after being provided with food, I would have set them free." This demonstrates the Prophet's mercy and inclination towards kindness even in difficult circumstances.

It is also mentioned that the Prophet used to have a hand, and he would distribute food to people with it, showing his generosity and care for others.

These teachings of the Prophet emphasize the importance of feeding the hungry, showing kindness, and treating everyone equally.

The Interaction between Abu Bakr and Umar with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

Abu Bakr's Meeting with Umar in the Mosque

Abu Sa'id informed us that Abu Yahya ibn Abi Masarra narrated to us, who said that Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ash-Shafi'i informed us, who said that Abdul Aziz ibn Abi Hazim reported from his father that a man informed him from Abu Al-Haytham ibn At-Tayyihan, that Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) went out and found Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) sitting in the mosque. Umar saluted him, Abu Bakr saluted back, and then Abu Bakr asked Umar why he was out at that hour. Umar responded that hunger compelled him, to which Abu Bakr also stated that hunger drove him out at the same time. They conversed until the Prophet (peace be upon him) appeared, saluted both of them, and inquired about the reason for their presence at that hour.

The Prophet's Words

Both Abu Bakr and Umar looked at each other, willing to let the other speak first. Abu Bakr then explained the situation, highlighting that he asked Umar the same question earlier. Umar then revealed that hunger led him out, and the Prophet mentioned that hunger was also his reason for being out. The Prophet asked if they learned anything significant that day, to which they replied affirmatively, praising Abu Al-Haytham for his hospitality and abundant dates. The Prophet then left with his companions, and upon his departure, Um Al-Haytham greeted him, showing her admiration and gratitude.

The Prophet's Compassion

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was sitting between two palm trees, leaning against a trunk, offering a sacrifice with his own hands for his parents. When he saw a group of people, he knew they were in need. He asked Umm Al-Haytham, "Have you fed the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and his companions?" She replied, "The Prophet, peace be upon him, only sat down for a short while." He asked, "What do you have?" She said, "I have some barley grains." He instructed her, "Crush and knead them and bake bread, as they are not familiar with yeast." He then took the knife, but the Prophet, peace be upon him, sensing his intention, warned him against taking something that did not belong to him.

A man from Yemen arrived with captives, and Fatimah, daughter of the Prophet, peace be upon him, came to him complaining of the hardships. The Prophet, peace be upon him, redirected the gift to Abu Al-Haytham, who had hosted the Prophet and his companions earlier. The boy was instructed to serve him well.

The boy remained with Abu Al-Haytham as long as Allah willed. When Abu Al-Haytham revealed that he and his wife were in need, the boy left for Sham and prospered there.

The Encounter of the Prophet with Abu Bakr in the Mosque

Chain of Transmission

Abu Huraira reported from Abu Hazim that Abu Al-Husayn ibn Bishran informed them that Abu Muhammad Dalaj ibn Ahmad ibn Dalaj narrated to them from Ja'far ibn Muhammad Al-Firyabi, who narrated from Zakariya ibn Yahya Al-Khazzan, Abu Ali, in his shop in Basrah. He said that Abu Khalf informed him that Abdullah ibn Isa narrated to them from Yunus ibn Ubayd, from Ikrimah, from Ibn Abbas.

The Incident

Umar ibn Al-Khattab said: "The Messenger of Allah went out at midday and found Abu Bakr in the mosque. He mentioned the content of this hadith, adding and omitting. What he added was that Abu Al-Haytham came, and the Prophet was pleased to see them. He climbed a date palm tree and harvested its clusters for them. The Prophet said to him: 'Is this sufficient for you, O Abu Al-Haytham?' He replied: 'O Messenger of Allah, you are eating from its good and ripe fruit.' He then brought them water, and they drank from it. The Prophet said: 'This is from the delight which you will be asked about,' without mentioning the story of the servant."

Variants in Transmission

It was narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah from Hilal ibn Mubashir from Abu Khalaf Al-Khazzaz without mentioning Umar in his chain of transmission. Another transmission includes a report from Shayban, from Abdul-Malik ibn Umayr, from Abi Salamah, from Abu Huraira, where the story of the servant is mentioned without Fatimah.

Additionally, it was transmitted by Abdullah Al-Umari from Nafi', from Ibn Umar.

Translation of Classical Arabic Text

Reported Narration from Anas ibn Malik

Abu Abdullah Al-Hafiz and Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Al-Hasan Al-Qadi informed us, saying: Abu Al-Abbas Muhammad ibn Ya'qub reported to us that Al-Abbas ibn Muhammad narrated to us that Harun ibn Ma'ruf informed us that Abdullah ibn Wahb said that Usama reported to him that Ja'far ibn Abdullah Abu Talhah Al-Ansari told him that he heard Anas ibn Malik saying: "I came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, one day and found him sitting with his companions while his stomach was tied with a stone." Usama said: "I also doubted the reason for the stone." So, I asked some of his companions why the Messenger of Allah did that, peace and blessings be upon him, and they said, 'Due to hunger.' I then went to Abu Talhah, the husband of Umm Sulaym bint Milhan, and said: 'O father, I saw the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, his stomach tied with a stone, and when I asked some of his companions, they said out of hunger.' Abu Talhah entered upon my mother and asked her, 'Do we have anything?' She replied, 'Yes, I have a piece of bread and some dates, and if the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, comes [alone], we will satisfy him, but if he comes with someone, we will be short.' Abu Talhah said to me, 'Go, Anas, stand close to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and when he rises, let him go until his companions disperse, then follow him until he stands at the door of his house and say, 'My father invites you.' So, I did that, and as I said, 'My father invites you,' he said to his companions, 'O people, come in.' He then took my hand and tightened it, then turned to his companions until we approached our house. He signaled me to go in, and I entered while feeling sad due to the number of people who had come. I said, 'O father, I conveyed your message to the Messenger of Allah as you said, so he called his companions, but you did not have enough to feed everyone I see.'

Then Abu Talhah went out to them and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, I only sent Anas to invite you alone, and I did not have enough to satisfy the number I see.' The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, 'Enter, for Allah will surely bless what you have.' So, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, entered and said...

The Prophet's Miracle of Feeding the Masses

Gather whatever you have, then bring it closer. A man sitting with the Prophet brought what they had of bread and dates. They placed it on their mat, and the Prophet prayed for blessings. He said, "Let eight enter upon me." I brought in eight, and he positioned his hand over the food, saying, "Eat, and remember Allah." They ate from between his fingers until they were satisfied. Then he asked me to bring in another eight, and the first group left, so I did, and they ate until they were full. This continued until eighty men had entered upon him, each eating their fill. Then, he invited me, along with my mother and Abu Talha, saying, "Eat." We ate until we were full, and he raised his hand, asking my mother, "Where is the food you presented earlier?" She replied, "By my parents, you are [our focus]. If I had not seen them eating, I would have said our food never diminished." This miraculous event was narrated by Muslim in Sahih, from Ibn Wahb.