Book 21: Foods

Abu 'Asib said: God's messenger went out during the night and when he passed me by and called to me I went out to him. He then passed by Abu Bakr, and when he called him he went out to him. He then passed by 'Umar and when he called him he went out to him. He then set off and when he had entered a garden belonging to one of the Ansar he asked the owner of the garden to give us some ripening dates to eat. He brought a bunch and laid it down, and when he and his companions had eaten he called for some cold water, after drinking which he said, "You will be questioned about this bounty on the day of resurrection." Thereupon 'Umar seized the bunch, and when he had thrown it on the ground so that the ripening dates were scattered towards God’s messenger he said, "Messenger of God, shall we be questioned about this on the day of resurrection?" He replied, "Yes, but not for three things: a rag with which a man covers his private parts, or a crumb with which he allays his hunger, or a shelter 1 into which he warms himself to escape heat and cold." 1. The word is hujr which is basically something forbidden It is then used as a place of protection covered with mud or stone. The following words indicate that something very small is intended. Cf. Mirqat, iv, 397. Pt. 12 Ahmad and Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al-iman, transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, "When the cloth is set down a man must not get up till it is removed, nor must he withdraw his hand even if he has had enough till the people have finished, but if he does he should make his excuse, for that embarrasses his companion and he does not stretch out his hand although he may perhaps require the food." Ibn Majah and Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al-iman, transmitted it.

Ja'far b. Muhammad told on his father's authority that when God's messenger ate along with people he was the last to finish eating. Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman in mursal form.

Asma' daughter of Yazid said: The Prophet (ﷺ) was brought some food which he offered to us, and when we said we did not want it he replied, "Do not combine falsehood with hunger." Ibn Majah transmitted it.

'Umar b. al-Khattab reported God's messenger as saying, "Eat together and not separately, for the blessing is associated with the company." Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "It is a part of the sunna that a man should accompany his guest to the door of the house." Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Baihaqi, in Shu‘ab al-iman, transmitted it on the authority both of Abu Huraira and of Ibn 'Abbas, but said there is a weakness in its isnad.

Ibn 'Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, "Good comes more quickly to the house in which food is provided than the knife comes to the camel's hump." 1 1. This tradition speaks of a hospitable house, the camel’s hump is mentioned because it is the first part of the animal from which meat is cut off, as it is considered the most pleasant part of its meat. Ibn Majah transmitted it.