It was narrated that Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: “The Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessings be upon him, went out one day or night and came upon Abu Bakr and ‘Umar and said, “What has brought you out of your houses at this hour?” They said, “Hunger, Messenger of Allaah.” He said, “Me too. By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, what brought you out brought me out, so get up.” They got up with him and went to visit a man  of the Ansaar, but he was not at home. When his wife saw him, she said, “Welcome! Welcome!” The Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to her, “Where is so-and-so?” She said, “He has gone to get water for us.” Then the Ansari came and saw the Messenger of Allaah and his two companions and said, “Praise be to Allaah. Today no one has more honored guests than I!” He went and brought them a branch with unripe and ripe fresh dates on it and said, “Eat.” He took a knife and the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him, “Do not slaughter one which yields milk.” So he slaughtered for them and they ate from the sheep and from that branch and drank. When they were full and their thirst quenched, the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, “By the One Who has my soul in His hand, you will be asked about this blessing(2)  on the Day of Resurrection. Hunger brought you out of your houses and you did not return until you had received this blessing.”(3)

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

1- This Hadeeth indicates that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and the prominent figures of the companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, were content with the little in this world, ascetic and that they were tested with hunger and poverty.

2- It is permissible for one to mention what afflicts him such as a pain and the like, not to complain or object his fate; but rather to relieve himself and be forbearing exactly as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did in this Hadeeth.

3- The permissibility of referring to the friend that can be trusted and taking a group to his house.

4- It implies a great virtues to Abul Haytham, may Allaah be pleased with him, because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, deemed him reliable to host him and his two companions. Actually, it is a very great honor.

5- It is recommended to show generosity to the guest and show happiness and joy before the guest due to hosting him.

6- One should make a haste to present the guest what is available with him and then honor him with a food which he makes for him; especially if he thinks that he is in bad need to food. 

7- It is recommended to praise Allaah The Almighty when an apparent grace occurred. One also should do so when an affliction was warded off which was expected to occur and the like of other conditions.

8- It indicates the permissibility of hearing the words of the non-Mahram woman and replying on her only for necessity. Also, it is permissible for the woman to allow guests to enter the house of her husband only if she knows for certain that her husband does not dislike them and there will be no prohibited Khilawah  (private meeting) with her.

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1)          He is Abul Haytham Maalik ibn At-Tihyaan.

2)          Questioning about the blessings will be about whether one fulfilled the right of thanking (Allaah The Almighty) for them or not. An-Nawawi, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “We believe that questioning here will be a kind of mentioning the multiple blessings, informing them with His (i.e. Allaah’s) generosity on them and explaining that He has completed it to them, not a kind of rebuking, reproofing or holding them accountable for them. [Refer to Sharh An-Nawawi ala Muslim 13/210]

3)          Reported in Saheeh Muslim n. (2038).

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