36/32. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2054c — Abu Talha and the Guest of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
Honoring guests and the virtue of showing preference to one's guest
Hadith About Abu Talha: Hospitality and Selflessness
Sahih Muslim : 2054c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2054c
وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ فُضَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِيُضِيفَهُ فَلَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُ مَا يُضِيفُهُ فَقَالَ " أَلاَ رَجُلٌ يُضِيفُ هَذَا رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ " . فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ يُقَالُ لَهُ أَبُو طَلْحَةَ فَانْطَلَقَ بِهِ إِلَى رَحْلِهِ . وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ بِنَحْوِ حَدِيثِ جَرِيرٍ وَذَكَرَ فِيهِ نُزُولَ الآيَةِ كَمَا ذَكَرَهُ وَكِيعٌ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
A man came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) so that he should entertain him as a guest, but he had nothing with which he could entertain him. He, therefore, asked if there was any person who would entertain him (assuring the audience) that Allah would show mercy to him. A person from the Ansar who was called Abu Talha stood up and he took him to his house. The rest of the hadith is the same and mention is (also) made in that about the revelation of the verse as narrated by Waki'.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2054cIn-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 235USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 23, Hadith 5102
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2054c
This narration says a man came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم so that he could be hosted as a guest, but the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not have anything with which to host him. He asked if someone would host the man, with the hope of Allah's mercy for that person. A man from the Ansar, named Abu Talha, stood up and took the guest to his home. The rest of the report follows the same meaning as the earlier narration and also mentions the revelation of the verse about preferring others despite need. The core teaching is hospitality, selflessness, and quiet service for someone hungry.
What we learn from this hadith
- Abu Talha responded when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked someone to host the guest.
- The story is tied to feeding a guest despite limited means.
- The narration mentions the verse about preferring others over oneself.
