70/32. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5432 — Ja'far's Kindness to the Poor
Sweet edible things and honey.
Hadith About Helping the Poor: Ja'far's Open-Hearted Care
Sahih Bukhari : 5432
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5432
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ شَيْبَةَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي الْفُدَيْكِ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، عَنِ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ كُنْتُ أَلْزَمُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِشِبَعِ بَطْنِي حِينَ لاَ آكُلُ الْخَمِيرَ، وَلاَ أَلْبَسُ الْحَرِيرَ، وَلاَ يَخْدُمُنِي فُلاَنٌ وَلاَ فُلاَنَةُ، وَأُلْصِقُ بَطْنِي بِالْحَصْبَاءِ، وَأَسْتَقْرِئُ الرَّجُلَ الآيَةَ وَهْىَ مَعِي كَىْ يَنْقَلِبَ بِي فَيُطْعِمَنِي، وَخَيْرُ النَّاسِ لِلْمَسَاكِينِ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، يَنْقَلِبُ بِنَا فَيُطْعِمُنَا مَا كَانَ فِي بَيْتِهِ، حَتَّى إِنْ كَانَ لَيُخْرِجُ إِلَيْنَا الْعُكَّةَ لَيْسَ فِيهَا شَىْءٌ، فَنَشْتَقُّهَا فَنَلْعَقُ مَا فِيهَا.
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
I used to accompany Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) to fill my stomach; and that was when I did not eat baked bread, nor wear silk. Neither a male nor a female slave used to serve me, and I used to bind stones over my belly and ask somebody to recite a Qur'anic Verse for me though I knew it, so that he might take me to his house and feed me. Ja`far bin Abi Talib was very kind to the poor, and he used to take us and feed us with what ever was available in his house, (and if nothing was available), he used to give us the empty (honey or butter) skin which we would tear and lick whatever was in it.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5432In-book reference : Book 70, Hadith 60USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 65, Hadith 343
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5432
This hadith about helping the poor is told through Abu Huraira's own hardship. He says he stayed close to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to fill his stomach at a time when he did not eat baked bread, did not wear silk, and had no servants. He describes pressing his belly to the ground and asking someone to recite a verse even though he already knew it, hoping the person would take him home and feed him. Then he praises Ja'far bin Abi Talib as very kind to the poor. Ja'far would take them home and feed them whatever was there, even if only an empty skin remained to lick from. The message is simple care with what one has.
What we learn from this hadith
- Abu Huraira openly described real hunger and need.
- Ja'far fed poor people with whatever was available in his house.
- Small amounts of food still mattered to those in need.
- The narration praises practical kindness, not showy giving.
