Mujaahid, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, used to say: "By Allaah except Whom none has the right to be worshipped, (sometimes) I used to lay (sleep) on the ground on my liver (abdomen) because of hunger, and (sometimes) I used to bind a stone over my belly because of hunger. One day I sat by the way from where they (the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him and his companions) used to come out. When Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, passed by, I asked him about a Verse from the Book of Allaah and I asked him only that he might satisfy my hunger, but he passed by and did not do so. Then ‘Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, passed by me and I asked him about a Verse from the Book of Allaah, and I asked him only that he might satisfy my hunger, but he passed by without doing so. Finally Abu-l-Qasim (the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him) passed by me and he smiled when he saw me, for he knew what was in my heart and on my face. He said, "O Aba Hirr (Abu Huraira)!" I replied, "Labbaik (I respond to Your call), O Messenger of Allaah!" He, peace and blessing be upon him, said to me, "Follow me." He, peace and blessing be upon him, left and I followed him.

Then he, peace and blessing be upon him, entered the house and I asked permission to enter and was admitted. He, peace and blessing be upon him, found milk in a bowl and said, "From where is this milk?" They said, "It has been presented to you by such-and-such man (or by such and such woman)." He, peace and blessing be upon him, said, "O Aba Hirr!" I said, "Labbaik, O Messenger of Allaah!" He said, "Go and call the people of Suffa to me." These people of Suffa were the guests of Islam who had no families, nor money, nor anybody to depend upon, and whenever an object of charity was brought to the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, he would send it to them and would not take anything from it, and whenever any present was given to him, he used to send some for them and take some of it for himself. The order of the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, upset me, and I said to myself, "How will this little milk be enough for the people of As-Suffa?" thought I was more entitled to drink from that milk in order to strengthen myself, but behold! The Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, came to order me to give that milk to them. I wondered what will remain of that milk for me, but anyway, I could not but obey Allaah and His Messenger, peace and blessing be upon him, so I went to the people of As-Suffa and called them, and they came and asked the Prophet's permission to enter. They were admitted and took their seats in the house.

The Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said, "O Aba-Hirr!" I said, "Labbaik, O Messenger of Allaah!" He, peace and blessing be upon him, said, "Take it and give it to them." So I took the bowl (of Milk) and started giving it to one man who would drink his fill and return it to me, whereupon I would give it to another man who, in his turn, would drink his fill and return it to me, and I would then offer it to another man who would drink his fill and return it to me. Finally, after the whole group had drunk their fill, I reached the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, who took the bowl and put it on his hand, looked at me and smiled and said. "O Aba Hirr!" I replied, "Labbaik, O Messenger of Allaah!" He said, "There remain you and I." I said, "You have said the truth, O Messenger of Allaah!" He, peace and blessing be upon him, said, "Sit down and drink." I sat down and drank. He said, "Drink," and I drank. He, peace and blessing be upon him, kept on telling me repeatedly to drink, till I said, "No. by Allaah Who sent you with the Truth, I have no space for it (in my stomach)." He said, "Hand it over to me." When I gave him the bowl, he praised Allaah and pronounced Allaah's Name on it and drank the remaining milk. (1).

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(1)         Reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari No. (6452).

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