It was narrated that Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: “When Al-Khandaq (the Trench) was dug, I saw the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, in the state of severe hunger. So I returned to my wife and said, “Have you got anything (to eat), for I have seen Allaah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, in a state of severe hunger.” She brought out for me, a bag containing one Saa‘ (double handful) of barley, and we had a domestic she-animal (i.e. a kid) which I slaughtered then, and my wife ground the barley and she finished at the time I finished my job (i.e. slaughtering the kid). Then I cut the meat into pieces and put it in an earthenware (cooking) pot, and returned to Allaah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him . My wife said, “Do not disgrace me in front of Allaah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, and those who are with him.” So I went to him and said to him secretly, “O Allaah’s Messenger! I have slaughtered a she-animal (i.e. kid) of ours, and we have ground a Saa‘ of barley which was with us. So please come, you and another person along with you.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, raised his voice and said, “O people of Trench ! Jaabir has prepared a meal so let us go.” Allaah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, said to me, “Do not put down your earthenware meat pot (from the fireplace) or bake your dough till I come.” So I came (to my house) and Allaah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, too, came, proceeding before the people. When I came to my wife, she said, “May Allaah do so-and-so to you.” I said, “I have told the Prophet of what you said.” Then she brought out to him (i.e. the Prophet the dough, and he spat in it and invoked for Allaah's Blessings in it. Then he proceeded towards our earthenware meat-pot and spat in it and invoked for Allaah's Blessings in it. Then he said (to my wife). Call a lady-baker to bake along with you and keep on taking out scoops from your earthenware meat-pot, and do not put it down from its fireplace.” They were one-thousand (who took their meals), and by Allaah they all ate, and when they left the food and went away, our earthenware pot was still bubbling (full of meat) as if it had not decreased, and our dough was still being baked as if nothing had been taken from it.” (1)

In another narration reported by Al-Bukhaari, he (Jaabir), may Allaah be pleased with him, said: “We were digging (the trench) on the day of (Al-Khandaq ( i.e. Trench ) and we came across a big solid rock. We went to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and said, “Here is a rock appearing across the trench.’ He said, ‘I am coming down.’ Then he got up, and a stone was tied to his belly for we had not eaten anything for three days. So the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, took the spade and struck the big solid rock and it became like sand. I said, “O Allaah’s Messenger! Allow me to go home.” (When the Prophet allowed me) I said to my wife(2) , “I saw the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, in a state that I cannot treat lightly. Have you got something (for him to eat?” She replied, “I have barley and a she-goat.” So I slaughtered the she-kid and she ground the barley; then we put the meat in the earthenware cooking pot. Then I came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, when the dough had become soft and fermented and (the meat in) the pot over the stone trivet had nearly been well-cooked, and said, “I have got a little food prepared, so get up O Allaah’s Messenger, you and one or two men along with you (for the food).” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, asked, “How much is that food?” I told him about it. He said, “It is abundant and good. Tell your wife not to remove the earthenware pot from the fire and not to take out any bread from the oven till I reach there.” Then he said (to all his companions), “Get up.” So the Muhaajireen (i.e. Emigrants) and the Ansaar (Helpers) got up. When I came to my wife, I said, “Allaah’s Mercy be upon you! The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, came along with the Muhaajireen and the Ansaar and those who were present with them.” She said, “Did the Prophet ask you (how much food you had)?” I replied, “Yes.” Then the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Enter and do not throng.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, started cutting the bread (into pieces) and put the cooked meat over it. He covered the earthenware pot and the oven whenever he took something out of them. He would give the food to his companions and take the meat out of the pot. He went on cutting the bread and scooping the meat (for his companions) till they all ate their fill, and even then, some food remained. Then the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said (to my wife), “Eat and present to others as the people are struck with hunger.” (3)

Amongst the lessons drawn from the above-mentioned Hadeeth are:

1-          This Hadeeth implies one of the sings of the Prophethood of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, namely increasing and multiplying the little food until he fed a great number of people.

2-          The perfect morals of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his mercy towards his companions for he did not prefer himself to them; rather, when the food was available, he did not eat until they all ate their fill. Actually, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, shared them their happiness and distress alike.

3-          The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, divided the companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, when he made them enter to eat. It was reported in some other narration that “He made them enter in tens and they ate all”. In fact, this indicates clear mercy towards them and making things easy for them so that everyone of them may satisfy his need of food without any difficulty nor troubles, especially, they were afflicted with a state of severe hunger.

4-          The great virtues and merits of Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah, may Allaah be pleased with him, and his perfect love to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, because he did not endure to see the sever hunger that afflicted the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and thus he explored every avenue to remove the hardship of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, in all possible means in his scope.

5-          The virtues of the companions, peace and blessings be upon him, and their perfect patience towards what afflicted them of fear, hunger and the like of other different forms of afflictions until Allaah The Almighty praised them and was pleased with them.

6-          The virtues of the wife of Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah. Her name is Sahlah bint Mas‘ood Al-Ansaariyyah, may Allaah be pleased with her, and her help to her husband to do good and kind acts, her magnanimity in spending what she has in her house, hoping for the reward of Allaah The Almighty and supporting His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him.

Her blame for Jaabir, may Allaah be pleased with him, at the beginning of the matter was due to her shyness because the food may not be sufficient for the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, and the companions accompanied him and when he informed her that he told the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, about the food she had, she felt comfort for she know for certain that he, peace and blessings be upon him, had extraordinary blessings. Actually, this indicates her brilliant thought and perfect virtues.

7-          Muslim individually has to follow the example of the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, and his companions, may Allaah be pleased with him. One has to show patience towards the afflictions and calamities that afflict him for the Sake of Allaah The Almighty. One has to be certain that what is with Allah is better and more lasting and that he will not reach the pleasure except through the bridge of hardship. Also, one has to ask Allaah The Almighty repeatedly to keep him safe and sound in this world and in the Hereafter.

1)          Reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari no. (4102 and Saheeh Muslim no. (5436).

2)          She is Sahlah bint Mas‘ood ibn Aws Adh-Dhafriyyah Al-Ansaariyyah, may Allaah be pleased with her. [An-Nawawi; Sharh Saheeh Muslim (17/120)].

3)          Reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari no. (4101).

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