65/59.6. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4889 — The Ansari Guest and Selfless Hospitality
The Statement of Allah the Exalted: "...And give them (emigrants) preference over themselves..." (V.59:9)
الْخَصَاصَةُ الْفَاقَةُ. {الْمُفْلِحُونَ} الْفَائِزُونَ بِالْخُلُودِ، الْفَلاَحُ الْبَقَاءُ، حَيَّ عَلَى الْفَلاَحِ عَجِّلْ. وَقَالَ الْحَسَنُ: {حَاجَةً} حَسَدًا.
Hadith About Selflessness: The Ansari Guest and True Hospitality
Sahih Bukhari : 4889
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4889
حَدَّثَنِي يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا فُضَيْلُ بْنُ غَزْوَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو حَازِمٍ الأَشْجَعِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ أَتَى رَجُلٌ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَصَابَنِي الْجَهْدُ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى نِسَائِهِ فَلَمْ يَجِدْ عِنْدَهُنَّ شَيْئًا، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَلاَ رَجُلٌ يُضَيِّفُ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةَ يَرْحَمُهُ اللَّهُ ". فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَقَالَ أَنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ. فَذَهَبَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ فَقَالَ لاِمْرَأَتِهِ ضَيْفُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لاَ تَدَّخِرِيهِ شَيْئًا. قَالَتْ وَاللَّهِ مَا عِنْدِي إِلاَّ قُوتُ الصِّبْيَةِ. قَالَ فَإِذَا أَرَادَ الصِّبْيَةُ الْعَشَاءَ فَنَوِّمِيهِمْ، وَتَعَالَىْ فَأَطْفِئِي السِّرَاجَ وَنَطْوِي بُطُونَنَا اللَّيْلَةَ. فَفَعَلَتْ ثُمَّ غَدَا الرَّجُلُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " لَقَدْ عَجِبَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ـ أَوْ ضَحِكَ ـ مِنْ فُلاَنٍ وَفُلاَنَةَ ". فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ {وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ}
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
A man came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! I am suffering from fatigue and hunger." The Prophet (ﷺ) sent (somebody) to his wives (to get something), but the messenger found nothing with them. Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said (to his companions). "Isn't there anybody who can entertain this man tonight so that Allah may be merciful to him?"An Ansari man got up and said, "I (will, entertain him), O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)!" So he went to his wife and said to her, "This is the guest of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), so do not keep anything away from him." She said. "By Allah, I have nothing but the children's food." He said, "When the children ask for their dinner, put them to bed and put out the light; we shall not take our meals tonight," She did so. In the morning the Ansari man went to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) who said, "Allah was pleased with (or He bestowed His Mercy) on so-and-so and his wife (because of their good deed)."Then Allah revealed: 'But give them preference over themselves even though they were in need of that.' (59.9)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4889In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 409USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 411
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4889
This hadith about selflessness shows a powerful act of hospitality. A hungry man came to Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, and there was no food in the Prophet’s homes. An Ansari man took the guest to his house. His wife had only the children’s food, yet they planned to feed the guest and go without food that night. They put the children to bed, put out the lamp, and made the guest feel served. In the morning, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that Allah was pleased with, or bestowed mercy on, that man and his wife. Then the verse was revealed about giving others preference over themselves even though they were in need. The lesson is generosity with real sacrifice, not just giving from extra.
What we learn from this hadith
- Hospitality can be shown even when resources are very limited.
- The Ansari couple gave preference to the guest despite their own need.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned Allah’s pleasure or mercy toward their action.
- The revealed verse praised giving others preference in hardship.
