36/20. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2040f — Sharing Surplus with Neighbours
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 Sharing Food with Neighbours After Barakah
Sahih Muslim : 2040f
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2040f
وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ مَخْلَدٍ الْبَجَلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ وَقَالَ فِيهِ ثُمَّ أَكَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَكَلَ أَهْلُ الْبَيْتِ وَأَفْضَلُوا مَا أَبْلَغُوا جِيرَانَهُمْ .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
Anas b. Malik reported this hadith (with a slight variation of wording) Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ate and the people of his house also ate. but (still) there was left a surplus, which they sent to their neighbours.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2040fIn-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 195USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 23, Hadith 5063
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2040f
This final wording of the Abu Talha meal adds that after the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم ate and the people of the house also ate, there was still surplus food. They sent that surplus to their neighbours. The core topic is sharing food. The hadith about sharing food with neighbours comes from what happened after the meal was blessed and people had eaten. The teaching should stay close to the text: there was extra food, and it was shared. This shows that when food remains, it can become a way to benefit others rather than being kept without need or wasted. The narration also completes the picture of barakah. The meal was not only enough for the gathered people; it also reached neighbours after the household had eaten.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم ate after the guests had eaten.
- The household also ate from the food.
- Surplus food still remained after the meal.
- The remaining surplus was sent to neighbours.
