37/34. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2473 — Ali Worked for Dates While Hungry
The Ahadith of Aishah, Anas, Ali, and Abu Hurairah
Hadith About Hunger and Earning Simple Food
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2473
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2473
حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ كَعْبٍ الْقُرَظِيِّ، حَدَّثَنِي مَنْ، سَمِعَ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، يَقُولُ خَرَجْتُ فِي يَوْمٍ شَاتٍ مِنْ بَيْتِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَدْ أَخَذْتُ إِهَابًا مَعْطُونًا فَحَوَّلْتُ وَسَطَهُ فَأَدْخَلْتُهُ عُنُقِي وَشَدَدْتُ وَسَطِي فَحَزَمْتُهُ بِخُوصِ النَّخْلِ وَإِنِّي لَشَدِيدُ الْجُوعِ وَلَوْ كَانَ فِي بَيْتِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم طَعَامٌ لَطَعِمْتُ مِنْهُ فَخَرَجْتُ أَلْتَمِسُ شَيْئًا فَمَرَرْتُ بِيَهُودِيٍّ فِي مَالٍ لَهُ وَهُوَ يَسْقِي بِبَكَرَةٍ لَهُ فَاطَّلَعْتُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ ثُلْمَةٍ فِي الْحَائِطِ فَقَالَ مَا لَكَ يَا أَعْرَابِيُّ هَلْ لَكَ فِي كُلِّ دَلْوٍ بِتَمْرَةٍ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ فَافْتَحِ الْبَابَ حَتَّى أَدْخُلَ فَفَتَحَ فَدَخَلْتُ فَأَعْطَانِي دَلْوَهُ فَكُلَّمَا نَزَعْتُ دَلْوًا أَعْطَانِي تَمْرَةً حَتَّى إِذَا امْتَلأَتْ كَفِّي أَرْسَلْتُ دَلْوَهُ وَقُلْتُ حَسْبِي فَأَكَلْتُهَا ثُمَّ جَرَعْتُ مِنَ الْمَاءِ فَشَرِبْتُ ثُمَّ جِئْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَوَجَدْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِيهِ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ .
Muhammad bin Ka'b Al-Qurazi Narrated from:
Someone Narrated To Me That He Heard 'Ali Bin Abi Talib Saying: 'I Went Out On A Cold Day From The House Of The Messenger Of Allah (S.A.W). I Had Taken A Tanned Skin, Si I Tore It In The Middle, And Out It Over My Neck, And Wrapped My Mid-Section, Fastening It With A Palm Leave. I Was Severely Hungry, And If There Was Food In The House Of The Messenger Of Allah (S.A.W) I Would Have Eaten Some Of It.I Went In Search Of Something. I Passed By A Jew On His Property Drawing Water (From A Well) With A Pulley. I Watched Him From A Gap In The Fence. He Said: What Is Wrong With You O Arab1 Would You Like To Get A Date For Every Bucket?" I Said: "Yes. Open The Door So I Can Come In."He Opened The Door, I Entered And He Gave Me His Bucket. Then For Every Bucket I Pulled Out, He Would Give Me A Date, Until When It Was Enough For Me. I Put His Bucket Down And Said: "I Think I Had Enough To Eat" Then I Scooped Some Water To Drink It. Then I Came To The Masjid And Found The Messenger Of Allah (S.A.W) In It.'"
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2473In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 59English translation : Vol. 4, Book 11, Hadith 2473
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2473
This hadith about hunger and earning simple food tells a direct story from Ali. On a cold day, he left the house of the Messenger of Allah wearing a tanned skin that he had fastened around himself. He was very hungry and said that if there had been food in the Prophet's house, he would have eaten from it. He went out looking for something and came across a man drawing water with a pulley. The man offered him one date for every bucket he pulled. Ali accepted, worked until he had enough dates, ate them, drank water, and then went to the mosque where he found the Messenger of Allah. The hadith shows hardship, honest work, and contentment with very little.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ali experienced severe hunger during that time.
- He worked for dates instead of simply waiting for food.
- A small amount of food was valued when hunger was strong.
- The Prophet's house itself did not have food available then.
