36/38. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2364 — Barley and Simple Bread
What Has Been Related About The Subsistence of the Prophet (s.a.w) And His Family
Hadith About Refined Flour and Barley
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2364
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2364
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَخْبَرَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَجِيدِ الْحَنَفِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو حَازِمٍ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، أَنَّهُ قِيلَ لَهُ أَكَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم النَّقِيَّ يَعْنِي الْحُوَّارَى فَقَالَ سَهْلٌ مَا رَأَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم النَّقِيَّ حَتَّى لَقِيَ اللَّهَ . فَقِيلَ لَهُ هَلْ كَانَتْ لَكُمْ مَنَاخِلُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ مَا كَانَتْ لَنَا مَنَاخِلُ . قِيلَ فَكَيْفَ كُنْتُمْ تَصْنَعُونَ بِالشَّعِيرِ قَالَ كُنَّا نَنْفُخُهُ فَيَطِيرُ مِنْهُ مَا طَارَ ثُمَّ نُثَرِّيهِ فَنَعْجِنُهُ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَقَدْ رَوَاهُ مَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ .
Abu Hazim Narrated from:
Sahl bin Sa'd asked: "Did The Messenger Of Allah (S.A.W) Eat Naqi – Meaning Refined (Flour)?” So Sahl Said: “The Messenger Of Allah (S.A.W) Did Not See Naqi Until He Met Allah.” It Was Said To Him: “Did You Have Sifters During The Time Of The Messenger Of Allah (S.A.W)?” He Said: “There Were No Sifters For Us.” They Said: “How Did You Prepare The Barley?” He Said: “We Would Blow It So (The Husk) Would Fly Off Of It, Then We Would Add Water So We Could Knead It.” (Hasan)
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2364In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 61English translation : Vol. 4, Book 10, Hadith 2364
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2364
This hadith about refined flour and barley gives a plain picture of food in the time described by Sahl bin Sa’d. He was asked whether the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) ate naqi, meaning refined flour. Sahl answered that the Prophet did not see it until he met Allah. He was also asked about sifters, and he said they had none. Their barley was prepared by blowing away what would fly off, then adding water and kneading it. The narration is useful for searches like hadith about barley and simple food in Islam. Its teaching is not about banning refined flour. It shows the simple conditions and food habits connected to the Prophet’s life.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet’s food was connected with simple and plain living.
- The companions prepared barley with basic means available to them.
- The narration teaches appreciation for simple food without adding a new ruling.
