36/39. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2366 — Hunger During Battle
What Has Been Related About The Subsistence Of The Companions Of The Prophet (s.a.w) And His Family
Hadith About Hunger and Service in Islam
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2366
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2366
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي خَالِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا قَيْسٌ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ سَعْدَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ، يَقُولُ إِنِّي أَوَّلُ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ رَمَى بِسَهْمٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنَا نَغْزُو مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَا لَنَا طَعَامٌ إِلاَّ الْحُبُلَةَ وَهَذَا السَّمُرَ حَتَّى إِنَّ أَحَدَنَا لَيَضَعُ كَمَا تَضَعُ الشَّاةُ ثُمَّ أَصْبَحَتْ بَنُو أَسَدٍ يُعَزِّرُونِي فِي الدِّينِ لَقَدْ خِبْتُ إِذًا وَضَلَّ عَمَلِي . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ غَزْوَانَ .
Sa'd Bin Malik said: "I Was The First Man Among The Arabs To Shoot An Arrow In Allah'S Cause. I Saw That We Battled Along With The Messenger Of Allah(S.A.W) And There Was No Food For Us But Al-Hubla And This Samur, Such That One Of Us Would Leave Droppings Like The Droppings Of A Sheep. Then Banu Asad Appeared Wanting To Instruct Me In Religion. I Would Be A Loser And Have Wasted My Efforts."
[1] A type of acacia. See Tuhfat Al-Ahwadhi and An-Nihāyah .Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2366In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 63English translation : Vol. 4, Book 10, Hadith 2366
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2366
This hadith about hunger and service is another narration from Sa’d bin Malik. He said he was the first man among the Arabs to shoot an arrow in Allah’s cause. He then described fighting alongside the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) when there was no food except al-hublah and samur. The report shows that the early struggle was not only about facing enemies. It also included hunger and rough living. Sa’d’s final words show his strong feeling when Banu Asad later tried to correct him in religion. The hadith reminds readers to respect sacrifice, avoid shallow criticism, and remember that early faith was carried through real tests.
What we learn from this hadith
- Serving Allah’s cause involved patience through severe hunger.
- The companions’ sacrifices were part of their lived faith.
- Correcting others requires humility, especially before people with proven effort.
