36/20. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2040a — Abu Talha’s Meal
It is permissible to take someone else to the house of one who you are certain will approve of that and will not mind. It is recommended to gather to eat
Hadith About Abu Talha’s Meal and Barakah in Food
Sahih Muslim : 2040a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2040a
وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَبْدِ، اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ، يَقُولُ قَالَ أَبُو طَلْحَةَ لأُمِّ سُلَيْمٍ قَدْ سَمِعْتُ صَوْتَ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ضَعِيفًا أَعْرِفُ فِيهِ الْجُوعَ فَهَلْ عِنْدَكِ مِنْ شَىْءٍ فَقَالَتْ نَعَمْ . فَأَخْرَجَتْ أَقْرَاصًا مِنْ شَعِيرٍ ثُمَّ أَخَذَتْ خِمَارًا لَهَا فَلَفَّتِ الْخُبْزَ بِبَعْضِهِ ثُمَّ دَسَّتْهُ تَحْتَ ثَوْبِي وَرَدَّتْنِي بِبَعْضِهِ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَتْنِي إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ فَذَهَبْتُ بِهِ فَوَجَدْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَالِسًا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَمَعَهُ النَّاسُ فَقُمْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَرْسَلَكَ أَبُو طَلْحَةَ " . قَالَ فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ . فَقَالَ " أَلِطَعَامٍ " . فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِمَنْ مَعَهُ " قُومُوا " . قَالَ فَانْطَلَقَ وَانْطَلَقْتُ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ حَتَّى جِئْتُ أَبَا طَلْحَةَ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ فَقَالَ أَبُو طَلْحَةَ يَا أُمَّ سُلَيْمٍ قَدْ جَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِالنَّاسِ وَلَيْسَ عِنْدَنَا مَا نُطْعِمُهُمْ فَقَالَتِ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ - قَالَ - فَانْطَلَقَ أَبُو طَلْحَةَ حَتَّى لَقِيَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَقْبَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَعَهُ حَتَّى دَخَلاَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " هَلُمِّي مَا عِنْدَكِ يَا أُمَّ سُلَيْمٍ " . فَأَتَتْ بِذَلِكَ الْخُبْزِ فَأَمَرَ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَفُتَّ وَعَصَرَتْ عَلَيْهِ أُمُّ سُلَيْمٍ عُكَّةً لَهَا فَأَدَمَتْهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ فِيهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَقُولَ ثُمَّ قَالَ " ائْذَنْ لِعَشَرَةٍ " . فَأَذِنَ لَهُمْ فَأَكَلُوا حَتَّى شَبِعُوا ثُمَّ خَرَجُوا ثُمَّ قَالَ " ائْذَنْ لِعَشَرَةٍ " . فَأَذِنَ لَهُمْ فَأَكَلُوا حَتَّى شَبِعُوا ثُمَّ خَرَجُوا ثُمَّ قَالَ " ائْذَنْ لِعَشَرَةٍ " . حَتَّى أَكَلَ الْقَوْمُ كُلُّهُمْ وَشَبِعُوا وَالْقَوْمُ سَبْعُونَ رَجُلاً أَوْ ثَمَانُونَ .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
Abu Talha said to Umm Sulaim: I felt some feebleness in the voice of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and perceived that it was due to hunger; so have you anything with you? She said: Yes. She brought out barley loaves, then took out a head-covering of hers, in a part of which she wrapped those loaves and then put them beneath my mantle and covered me with a part of it. She then sent me to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).I set forth and found Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sitting in the mosque in the company of some persons. I stood near them, whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Has Abu Talha sent you? I said, Yes. He said: Is it for a feast? I said. Yes. Thereupon Allah's messenger (ﷺ) said to'those who were with him to get up He went forth and so I did before them, until I came to Abu Talha and informed him.Abu Talba said: Umm Sulaim, here comes Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) along with people and we do not have enough (food) to feed them. She said: Allah and His Messenger know best. Abu Talha went out (to receive him) Until he met Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) came forward along with him until they both (Allah's Messenger, along with Abu Talha) came in.Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Umm Sulaim. bring forth that which you have with you. She brought the bread. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) commanded that the bread be broken into small pieces, and when Umm Sulaim had squeezed a small waterskin and put seasoning on it, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) recited something regarding it what Allah wished him to say.He then said: Allow ten (guests to come in and have their meals). He permitted them; they ate until they had their fill. They then went out. He (the Holy Prophet) again said: Permit ten (more) and he (the host gave permission to them. They ate until they had enough. Then they went out. he again said: Permit ten (more) until all the people had eaten to their fill, and they were seventy or eighty persons.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2040aIn-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 190USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 23, Hadith 5058
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2040a
This hadith describes Abu Talha noticing weakness in the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم voice and understanding it as hunger. Umm Sulaim sent barley loaves with Anas to invite him. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم came with the people who were with him, although Abu Talha worried that the food was not enough. Umm Sulaim said that Allah and His Messenger know best. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked for the food, had it broken into pieces, and said what Allah wished him to say over it. Then groups of ten entered and ate until full. This continued until seventy or eighty people had eaten. The core topic is barakah in food. The hadith about Abu Talha’s meal teaches trust, hospitality, and the blessing Allah placed in a small amount of food through His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم.
What we learn from this hadith
- Abu Talha noticed the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم hunger and responded with care.
- Umm Sulaim prepared and sent what they had.
- People entered in groups of ten and ate until satisfied.
- A small meal became enough for seventy or eighty people.
