Chapter 73. The Book of Foods
The words of Allah Almighty, "Eat of the good things things We have provided you" (2:57, 2:172; 7:160; 20:81) and "Give away some of the good things which you have earned" (2:267) and His words, "Eat of the good things and act rightly. I most certainly know what you do." (23:51)
5058. It is related from Abu Musa al-Ash'ari that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Feed the hungry, visit the sick and free captives." Sufyan said that al-'ani means "captive".
5059. It is related that Abu Hurayra said, "The family of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not eat their fill for three days in a row until he died."
5060. It is related that Abu Hurayra said, "While I was suffering from extreme exhaustion, I met 'Umar ibn al-Khattab. I asked him to recite an ayat of the Qur'an to me. He entered his house and recited it to me. Then I walked only a short distance and fell on my face out of exhaustion and hunger. Suddenly the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was standing at my head. He said, 'Abu Hirr.' I answered, 'At your service, Messenger of Allah!' He took my hand and helped me up and recognised what was wrong with me. He took me to his house and commanded I be brought a large bowl of milk and I drank from it. He said, 'Again! Drink, Abu Hirr.' So I drank again. He said, 'Again!' So I drank again until my stomach was distended like a bowl. Then I met 'Umar and told him what had happened. I said to him, 'Allah put someone in charge of that who was more entitled to it than you, 'Umar. By Allah, I asked you to recite that ayat when I know it better than you.' 'Umar then said, 'By Allah, I would have preferred to bring you in than having the like of red camels!'"
I. Saying the Name of Allah over food and eating with the right hand
5061. It is related that 'Umar ibn Abi Salama said, "I was a boy in the care of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and my hand used to go all around in the plate. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to me, 'Boy, say the name of Allah and eat with your right hand and eat from what is in front of you.' That has been the way I have eaten ever since."
II. Eating from what is in front of you
Anas said that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Say the Name of Allah and every man should eat from what is in front of him."
5062. It related that 'Umar ibn Abi Salama, the son of Umm Salama, the wife of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "One day I ate some food with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. I began to eat from all sides of the plate and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, told me, 'Eat from what is in front of you.'"
5063. It is related that Wahb ibn Kaysan Abi Nu'aym said. "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was brought some food while his step-son, 'Umar ibn Abi Salama, was with him. He said, 'Say the Name of Allah and eat from what is in front of you.'"
III. Moving around the bowl with a companion when he does not see that he dislikes that
5064. It is related that Anas ibn Malik said, "A tailor invited the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, for some food which he had prepared." Anas said, "I saw the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, following the pumpkin around the plate." Anas said, "I have loved pumpkin since that day."
IV. Using the right hand for eating and other things.
'Umar ibn Abi Salama said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, told me, 'Eat with your right hand.'"
5065. It is related that 'A'isha said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, liked to begin with the right in all matters as much as possible in his purification, putting on his shoes, and combing."
Shu'ba said before this in Wasit, "In all his affairs."
V. The one who ate until he was full
5066. It is related that Anas ibn Malik was heard to say, "Abu Talha said to Umm Sulaym, 'I heard the voice of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and it was weak and I recognised hunger in it. Do you have anything?' She produced some barley loaves. She took a scarf of hers and wrapped up the bread in part of it and then she put it under my garment and tied the rest of it round me. Then she sent me to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and I took it with me. I found the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sitting in the mosque with some people. I stood over them and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked me, 'Did Abu Talha send you?' I answered, 'Yes.' He said, 'With food?' I said, 'Yes.' The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to those with him, 'Get up.' Then he set off and I went on ahead of them until I came to Abu Talha and informed him. Abu Talha said, 'Umm Sulaym! The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, has come with some people, and we do not have anything to feed them.' She said, 'Allah and His Messenger know best.' Abu Talha went to meet the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, went forward with him until they both entered and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Bring what you have, Umm Sulaym.' So she brought that bread and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, commanded it to be broken up and then Umm Sulaym squeezed some ghee on it to flavour it.' Then the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said what Allah willed over it and then he said, 'Admit ten,' and he admitted them. They ate until they were full and then went out. Then he said, 'Admit ten' and he admitted them. They ate until they were full and then went out. Then he said, 'Admit ten' and he admitted them and so on until all the people had eaten and were full, and there were eighty men."
5067. It is related that 'Abdu'r-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr said, "There were a hundred and thirty of us with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked, 'Does any of you have any food with him?' One man had about a sa' of food which was kneaded. Then a very tall man who was an idolworshipper came with some sheep he was driving. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked, 'Are they for sale or a gift?' (or he said 'hiba' instead of ''atiyya') He replied, 'For sale.' So he bought a sheep from him and it was slaughtered. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, commanded that its inner organs be roasted. By Allah, there was not one among the one hundred and thirty to whom the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not give a piece of its liver, If he was present, he gave it to him, and if he was absent, he kept it for him. He put it into two large bowls and everyone ate and we were full and there were two bowls extra which we carried on the camel,' or words to that effect.
5068. It is related that 'A'isha said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, died when we had our fill of the two black ones: dates and water.'"
VI. "There is no objection to the blind, no objection to the lame, no objection to the sick nor to yourselves for eating in your own houses or your fathers' houses or your mothers' houses or your brothers' houses or your sisters' houses or the houses of your paternal uncles or paternal aunts or the houses of your maternal uncles or maternal aunts or places to which you own the keys or those of your friends. There is nothing wrong for you in eating together or eating separately. And when you enter houses greet one another with a greeting from Allah, blessed and good. In this way Allah makes the Signs clear to you so that perhaps you may use your intellect." (24:61)
An-Nahd* and gathering together for food.
[Nahd is gathering together the food which different travellers have abnd then sharing it out equally between them.]
5069. It is related that Suwayd ibn an-Nu'man said, "We set out for Khaybar with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. When we were at as-Sahba' (and Yahya says that it a day's journey from Khaybar), the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked for food. Only sawiq* was brought. We chewed and ate it. Then he called for water and rinsed his mouth out and we did so as well, and then he led us in Maghrib without repeating wudu'."
Sufyan said, "I heard it from him, beginning to end."
[*sawiq: a mush made of wheat or barley.]
VII. Thin bread and eating at a table or on tablecloths (sufra)
5070. It is related that Qatada said, "We were with Anas who had his baker with him. He said, 'The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, never ate thin bread or a roasted sheep until he met Allah.'"
5071. It is related from Qatada that Anas said, "I do not know that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ever ate from a saucer* at all or ate thin bread nor ate at a table at all." Qatada was asked, "What did they used to eat on?" "On tablecloths," he answered.
[* Sukurruja: a small bowl-shaped vessel in which things like salad were put.]
5072. Humayd heard Anas say, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, stopped to consummate his marriage with Safiyya, I invited the Muslims to his wedding feast. He ordered that leather mats be spread out and then dates, dried curd and ghee were put on them." 'Amr reported that Anas said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, consummated his marriage and then put hays on a leather mat."
5073. It is related that Wahb ibn Kaysan said, "The people of Syria insulted Ibn az-Zubayr, calling him, 'The son of the woman with two belts.' Asma' said to him, 'my son, they insult you with the two belts. Do you know what the two belts were? It was my belt which I divided in half. I tied the waterskin of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, with one of them and tied the food container with the other.' So when the people of Syria insulted him with the two belts, he would say. 'Yes, by Allah, "it is a fault of which the disgrace is far from you."*'"
[* This is half of a line of poetry by Kuthayyir or Abu Dhu'ayb.]
5074. It is reported from Ibn 'Abbas that Umm Hufayd bint al-Harith ibn Hazn, the aunt of Ibn 'Abbas, gave the Prophet some ghee, dried curd and lizards. He invited people to eat them and they were eaten on his table and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, left them as if he found them distasteful. If that had been haram, they would not have been eaten on the table of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, nor commanded that they be eaten."
VIII. Sawiq
5075. It is related that Suwayd ibn an-Nu'man said, "We were with the Messenger of Allah, Messenger of Allah at as-Sahba', which is a day's journey from Khaybar. The time for the prayer and he called for food, but there was only sawiq to be found. He chewed some of it and we chewed with him. Then he called for water and rinsed his mouth out and prayed and we praying with him, and he did not repeat wudu'."
IX. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used not to eat anything until it was named for him so that he knew what it was
5076. It is related from Ibn 'Abbas that Khalid ibn al-Walid, who was called the Sword of Allah, informed him that he went with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to Maymuna. She was both his maternal aunt and the maternal aunt of Ibn 'Abbas. He found that she had a roasted lizard which her sister, Hufayda bint al-Harith, had brought from Najd. She offered the lizard to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. He rarely stretched his hand towards food until he had been told about it and it had been named for him. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, reached for the lizard and one of the women present said, 'Tell the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, what you have offered him. It is lizard, Messenger of Allah.' The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, took his hand away from the lizard. Khalid ibn al-Walid asked, 'Is lizard haram, Messenger of Allah?' 'No,' he answered, 'but it is not found in the land of my people and I find that I dislike it.' Khalid said, 'I pulled it to me and ate it while the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was looking at me.'"
X. Food for one is enough for two
5077. It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'The food of two is enough for three and the food of three is enough for four.'"
XI. A believer eats in one intestine
5078. It is related that Nafi' said, "Ibn 'Umar used to not eat until a poor man was brought to eat with him. I brought in a man who ate with him and ate a lot. He said, 'Nafi', do not admit this man to me. I heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'A believer eats in one intestine and the unbeliever eats in seven.'"
5079. It is related that Ibn 'Umar said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'A believer eats in one intestine and the unbeliever – or hypocrite – eats in seven."
The like of it is reported from Nafi' from Ibn 'Umar from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.
5080. It is related that 'Amr said, "Abu Nahil was a man who ate a lot. Ibn 'Umar said to him, 'The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The unbeliever eats in seven intestines."' He said, 'I believe in Allah and His Messenger.'"
5081. It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The Muslim eats in one intestine and the unbeliever eats in seven."
5082. It is related from Abu Hurayra that a man used to eat a lot. He became Muslim and then he used to eat a little. That was mentioned to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he said, "The believer eats in one intestine and the unbeliever eats in seven."
XII. Eating reclining
5083. It is related that Abu Juhayfa said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'I do not eat reclining.'"
5084. It is related that Abu Juhayfa said, "I was with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when he said to a man who was with him, 'I do not eat while I am reclining.'"
XIII. Roasted meat
The words of Allah Almighty, "He bought a roasted calf." (11:69), Hanidh means "roasted".
5085. It is related from Ibn 'Abbas that Khalid ibn al-Walid said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was brought a roasted lizard and reached for it to eat it. He was told that it was a lizard and he withdrew his hand. Khalid asked, 'Is it haram?' He said, 'No, but it is not in the land of my people and I find that I dislike it.' Khalid ate while the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was watching.'" Malik reported from Ibn Shihab that it was a roasted lizard.
XIV. Khazira (Bran broth)
An-Nadr said, "Khazira is made with bran and harira is made with milk.
5086. It is related by Ibn Shihab from Mahmud ibn ar-Rabi' al-Ansari that 'Itban ibn Malik al-Ansari, one of those who was present at Badr, went to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said, "Messenger of Allah, my eyesight is weak and I lead my people in the prayer. When it rains, the water floods the river-bed between me and them so that I am unable to get to their mosque and lead them in the prayer. Messenger of Allah, I would very much like you to come and pray in my house so that I could take it as a prayer-place." He said, "I will do that, Allah willing." 'Itban said, "The following day when the sun was well up, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and Abu Bakr came and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked for permission to enter and I gave him permission. He did not sit down when he entered the house but said, "Where in your house would you like me to pray?" I pointed out to him the place where I wanted to pray. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, stood and said the takbir, and we formed rows behind him. He prayed two rak'ats and then said the taslim . We persuaded him to stay for some khazira [meat soup with bran] we had been prepared. Quite a number of the men of those houses gathered in the house and one of them said, "Where is Malik ibn ad-Dukhshun?" "That man is a hypocrite who does not love Allah and His Messenger." The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Do not say that. Do you not see that he has said, 'There is no god but Allah,' desiring by that nothing but the face of Allah?" The man said, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He added, "But we have only seen him directing himself to the hypocrites and advising them." The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Allah has forbidden the Fire for anyone who says 'There is no god but Allah' desiring by that the face of Allah."'"
Ibn Shihab said, "Then I asked al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ansari, one of the Banu Salim, who was one of their nobles, about the hadith of Mahmud and he confirmed it."
XV. Dried curd (aqit)
Humayd said, "I heard Anas say, "When the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, consummated his marriage with Safiyya, he put out dates, dried curd and ghee."
'Amr ibn Abi 'Amr said that Anas said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prepared hays."
5087. It is related that Ibn 'Abbas said, "My aunt gave the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, a lizard, dried curd and milk. The lizard was placed on his table. If it had been unlawful it would not have been placed there. He drank the milk and ate the dried curd."
XVI. Garden-beet and barley
5088. It is related that Sahl ibn Sa'd said, "We used to be happy on the day of Jumu'a. There was an old woman among us who used to pull up by the roots the garden-beet (silq) and put them in a pot. Then she would put in some barley. When we had prayed, we would visit her and then she would bring it to us. We used to be happy on the day of Jumu'a because of that. We did not have lunch or an afternoon nap except after Jumu'a. By Allah, there was no fat or melted fat in it."
XVII. Biting and tearing meat with the teeth
5089. It is related that Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ate the meat from the bone of a shoulder and then stood up and prayed without doing wudu'.
It is related that Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ate the meat on a bone from a pot and then prayed without doing wudu'."
XVIII. Eating meat from the bone with the teeth
5090. It is related that Abu Qatada said, "We went out with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in the direction of Makka..."
5091. It is related from 'Abdullah ibn Abi Qatada as-Salami that his father said, "One day I was sitting with some men of the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in a stage on the Makka road. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had alighted ahead of us. The people were in ihram but I was not. They saw a wild ass while I was busy fixing my sandal throng. They did not inform me about it, but they wanted for me to see it. I turned and saw it and went to my horse and saddled it. Then I mounted, forgetting my whip and spear. I said to them, 'Hand me my whip and spear.' They said, 'No, by Allah, we will not help you in it at all.' I became angry and got off and took them and then I mounted and attacked the ass and stabbed it. Then I brought it when it was dead. They began to eat it and then they were unsure about eating it as they were in ihram. We travelled and I concealed its foreleg with me. We caught up to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and asked him about that. He said, 'Do you have any of it with you?' I said, 'Yes.' I gave him the foreleg and he ate it until he had cleaned it while he was in ihram."
The like of it is related by 'Ata' ibn Yasar from Abu Qatada.
XIX. Cutting meat with a knife
5092. It is related from Ja'far ibn 'Amr ibn Umayya that his father, 'Amr ibn Umayya, informed him that he saw the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, cutting off a piece of a shoulder of mutton when he was called to the prayer. He put down the knife and prayed without doing wudu'.
XX. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not criticise food
5093. It is related that Abu Hurayra said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, never criticised food. If he liked it, he ate it, and if he disliked it, he left it."
XXI. Blowing on barley
5094 It is related that Abu Hazim said that he asked Sahl, "Did you see any white flour in the time of the Prophet?" "No," he answered. I asked, "Did you sift barley?" 'No," he answered, "but we used to blow on it (to remove the husks)."
XXII. What the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his companions used to eat
5095. It is related that Abu Hurayra said, "One day the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, divided some dates between his Companions. He gave each one seven dates. He gave me seven dates, one of which was a dry date*. I loved it more than any of the other days because I had to chew it hard.
[*Hashafa: a type of date that dries without ripening and is considered to be the worst sort of date.]
5096. It is related that Sa'd said, "I remember when I was one of (the first) seven with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. We had no food except the leaves of the Hubla or the Habala* so that our stool was like that of sheep. Now the Banu Asad want to teach me about Islam. I would be lost then and my striving wasted."
[*Hubla is the fruit of the 'Idah, a sort of thorny tree which is a sort of bean, and habala is the stock of a grape vine.]
5097. It is related that Abu Hazim said, "I asked Sahl ibn Sa'd, 'Did the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, eat any white flour?' Sahl said, 'The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, never saw any white flour from the time when Allah sent him until Allah took him.' I asked, 'Did you have sieves in the time of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace?' He answered, 'The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, never saw a sieve from the time when Allah sent him until Allah took him.' I asked, 'How could you eat unsifted barley?' He said, 'We used to grind it and blow on it and after the husk blew away, we moistened what was left and then ate it.'"
5098. It is reported that Abu Hurayra passed by a group of people in front of whom was a roasted sheep. They invited him, but he refused to eat and said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace,left this world without ever having his fill of barley."
5099. It is related from Qatada that Anas ibn Malik said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, never ate at a table or from a saucer nor did he eat thin bread." Yunus said, "I asked Qatada, 'What did they eat on?' 'On mats.' he replied."
5100. It is reported that 'A'isha said, "The family of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, never had their fill of wheat to eat for three days in a row from the time he arrived in Madina until he died."
XXIII. Talbina (a dish prepared from milk and flour or bran, sometimes with honey added)
5101. It is related from 'A'isha, the wife of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, that when one of her relatives died, the women gathered for that and then dispersed except for her family and close friends. She would order a pot of talbina to be cooked. Then tharid (meat broth)* was prepared and the talbina poured on it. Then she said, "Eat from it. I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'Talbina relieves the heart of the sick person and removes some of his sorrow.'"
[Crumbled bread which is then moistened with broth)
XXIV. Tharid (broth)
5102. It is related from Abu Musa al-Ash'ari that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "There are many perfect men, but the only perfect women were Maryam bint 'Imran and Asiyya, the wife of Pharaoh. The excellence of 'A'isha over other women is like the excellence of tharid over other types of food."
5103. It is related from Anas that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The excellence of 'A'isha over other women is like the excellence of tharid over other types of food."
5104. It is related that Anas said, "I went with the Prophet to a slave of his who was a tailor. He brought him a dish of tharid and went back to his work. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, began to follow the pieces of pumpkin and I began to follow it and put it before him." He said, "I have loved pumpkin ever since."
XXV. A roasted sheep, and shoulder and shank
5105. It is related that Qatada said, "We used to go to Anas ibn Malik while his baker was standing. He said, 'Eat. I do not know that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ever saw thin bread until he met Allah and he never saw a whole roasted sheep with his own eyes."
5106. It is related that 'Amr ibn Umayya ad-Damri said, "I saw Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, cutting meat from the shoulder of a sheep and eating it. Then he was called to the prayer and he rose and put down the knife and prayed without renewing wudu'."
XXVI. Food, meat and other thing which the Salaf used to store in their houses and take on their journeys
'A'isha and Asma' said, "We prepared provision for the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and Abu Bakr."
5107. It is related that 'Abis said, "I asked 'A'isha, 'Did the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbid eating the meat of sacrifices [of 'Id al-Adha] for more than three days?' She answered, 'The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, only did that in the year when the people were hungry and he wanted for the rich to feed the poor. Later we would store trotters and eat them after 15 days.' It was asked, 'What compelled you to do that?' She laughed and said, 'The family of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, never had their fill of wheat bread with condiments for three days until he met Allah.'"
This is related from 'Abdu'r-Rahman ibn 'Abis.
5108. It is related that Jabir said, "We used to take provisions from the meat of sacrifices (hadi) to Madina during the time of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.
It is corroborated from Ibn 'Uyayna. Ibn Jurayj said, "I asked 'Ata', 'Did he say, "Until we reached Madina"?' 'No,' he replied.
XXVII. Hays (a mixture of dates, ghee and dried curd)
5109. It is related from Anas ibn Malik was heard to say, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to Abu Talha, 'Look out one of your boys to serve me.' Abu Talha brought me out riding behind him. I would serve the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when he alighted. I would often hear him say, 'O Allah, I seek refuge with you from care and sorrow, incapacity and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debt and being overcome by men.' I continued to serve him until we returned from Khaybar. He brought Safiyya bint Huyayy who he had chosen from the booty. I saw him folding up a cloak or garment for me and when had he ride behind him. When we were at as-Sahba', some hays was prepared and put on a small leather mat. Then he sent me to invite some men and they ate. That was his wedding feast for consummation. Then he continued on and when he could see Uhud, he said, 'This is a mountain which loves us and we love it.' When he was looking own at Madina, he said, 'O Allah, I make inviolable what is between its two mountains as Ibrahim made Makka inviolable. O Allah, bless them in their sa' and mudd.'"
XXVIII. Eating from a vessel decorated with silver
5110. 'Abdu'r-Rahman ibn Abi Layla reported that they were sitting with Hudhayfa who asked for water. A Magian brought him water. When he placed the cup in his hand, he threw it at him and said, "Have I not forbidden him more than once or twice?" It was as if he was saying, "I would not have done this. But I heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'Do not wear silk or silk brocade nor drink from gold or silver vessels or eat from gold or silver plates. They are for the unbelievers in this world and for us in the Next World.
XXIX. Mentioning food
5111. It is related that Abu Musa al-Ash'ari said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The metaphor of a believer who recites the Qur'an is that of a citron - its scent is fragrant and its taste is good. The metaphor of a believer who does not recite the Qur'an is that of a date - it has no scent but its taste is sweet. The metaphor of a hypocrite who recites the Qur'an is that of basil - its scent is fragrant but its taste is bitter. The metaphor of a hypocrite who does not recite the Qur'an is that of colocynth - its taste is bitter and it has no scent."
5112. It is related from Anas that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The excellence of 'A'isha over other women is like the excellence of tharid over other types of food."
5113. It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Travelling is a form of punishment. It deprives a person of his food and drink and sleep. When he finishes what he has to do, he should hurry back to his family."
XXX. Condiments (Udm)
5114. It is related that al-Qasim ibn Muhammad was heard to say, "There were three sunnas established in connection with Barira. 'A'isha wanted to buy her and set her free and her owners said, 'We have her wala'.' She mentioned that to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who said, 'If you wish, give them that condition. The wala' belongs to the one who sets a person free.' She was set free and given a choice between remaining with her husband or leaving him. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came into the house of 'A'isha while there was a pot on the boil. He asked for lunch and was brought bread and condiments of the house. He asked, 'Did I not see meat?' They answered, 'Yes, Messenger of Allah, but it was meat that was given as sadaqa to Barira which she gave to us.' He said, 'It is sadaqa for her and it is a gift for us.'"
XXXI. Sweets and honey
5115. It is related that 'A'isha said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to love sweets and honey."
5116. It is related from al-Maqburi that Abu Hurayra said, "I used to stay close to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to order to fill my belly. At that time I did not eat leavened bread or wear silk. I had no servant, either male or female. I used to tie stones to my belly and ask a man to recite an ayat to me which I already knew so that he would take me home and feed me. The best person in how he treated the poor was Ja'far ibn Abi Talib. He used to take us home and feed us whatever was in his house, and he would even give us a skin which had nothing in it and we would tear it open and lick whatever was in it."
XXXII. Pumpkin
5117. It is related from Anas that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, went to a client of his who was a tailor and pumpkin was brought and he began to eat it. I have continued to love it since I saw the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, eat it.'"
XXXIII. A man taking it on himself to cook for his brother
5118. It is reported that Abu Mas'ud al-Badri said, "A man of the Ansar called Abu Shu'ayb had a slave who was a butcher. He told him, 'Prepare some food. I will invite the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in a party of five.' He invited the Messenger of Allah in a group of five and a man followed them. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'You invited me in a group of five and this man has followed us. If you like, you can give him permission, and if you like, I will leave him.' He said, 'I give him permission.'"
Muhammad ibn Isma'il was heard to say, "When people are at a table, they cannot take food from one table to another, but they can pass it from one another at that table, or they should leave it."
XXXIV. When someone invites someone to eat and then goes to his work
5119. It is related that Anas said, "I was a young boy walking with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, went to a slave of his who was a tailor. He brought him a dish of food with pumpkin on it. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, began to follow the pieces of pumpkin. When I saw that, I began to pile it up in front of him. The slave went back to his work." Anas said, "I have loved pumpkin ever since I saw the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, do what he did."
XXXV. Soup
5120. It is related that Anas said, "A tailor invited the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to some food he had prepared. I went with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. He brought barley bread and soup with pumpkin and dried meat. I saw the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, following the pumpkin around the dish and I have loved pumpkin since that day."
XXXVI. Dried Meat
5121. It is related that Anas said, "I saw the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when he was brought soup containing pumpkin and dried meat. I saw him picking out the pumpkin to eat."
5122. It is related that 'A'isha said, "He only did that* in the year when the people were hungry and he wanted for the rich to feed the poor. Later we would store trotters and eat them after 15 days.' It was asked, 'What compelled you to do that?' She laughed and said, 'The family of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, never had his fill of wheat bread with condiments for three days,'"
[See 5100. *Forbidding the meat of sacrifices to be stored for more than three days.]
XXXVII. The one who handed or offered his companion something at a table.
Ibn al-Mubarak said, "There is no harm in passing food to one another but one should not move it from one table to another."
5123. It is related that Anas ibn Malik said that a tailor invited the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to some food he had prepared. I went with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to that food and he brought the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, barley bread and soup which contains pumpkin and dried meat. I saw the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, following the pumpkin around the dish and I have loved pumpkin since that day."
Thumama reported that Anas said, "I began to collect the pumpkin in front of him."
XXXVIII. Eating fresh dates with cucumber
5214. It is related that 'Abdullah ibn Abi Ja'far said, "I saw the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, eating fresh dates with cucumber."
5215. It is related that Abu 'Uthman said, "I was the guest of Abu Hurayra for seven days. He, his wife and servant used to alternate in thirds of the night. Each would pray and then wake up the other. I heard him say, 'The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, divided some dates between his Companions and I got seven dates, one of which was a dry date (hasafa).'"
5216. It is related from Abu 'Uthman that Abu Hurayra said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, divided dates between us and I got five dates, four good dates and one dry date, I found the dry date the hardest on my teeth."
XXXIX. Fresh dates and dry dates
The words of Allah Almighty, "Shake the trunk of the palm towards you and fresh, ripe dates will drop down onto you." (19:25)
5127. It is reported that 'A'isha said, "When the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, died, we had our fill of the two black ones: dates and water."
5128. It is related that Jabir ibn 'Abdullah said, "There was a Jew in Madina who used to give me a loan against my dates up until the time that they were cut. (Jabir had some land which was on the road to Ruma.) There was no crop and there was a delay of a year. The Jew came at the time of cutting the dates and I had not cut any dates. I asked him to give him a delay until the following year but he refused. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was informed about that and said to his Companions, 'Let us go and ask the Jew for a delay for Jabir.' They came to me in my palm trees and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, began to speak to the Jew who said, 'Abu'l-Qasim, I will not give him a delay.' When the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, saw that, he stood up and walked around the palm trees and then went back to the Jew, spoke to him again, but he still refused. I got up and brought a few fresh dates and put them in front of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. He ate and then said, 'Where is your hut, Jabir?' I told him and he said, 'Make a bed for me in it.' I made a bed and he went inside and went to sleep. Then he woke up and I brought him another handful of dates and he ate some of them. Then he rose and spoke to the Jew who again refused his request. Then he stood among the palm trees with fresh dates again. Then he said, 'Jabir, cut and settle your debt.' He stood while they were being cut. I cut from them that which paid the debt and the like of them was left over. I went to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and told him the good news and he said, 'I testify that I am the Messenger of Allah."
"'Arsh (throne)" (27:23) and "'arish" is a structure. "Ma'rushat" (6:141) are grapevines and the like on trellises. It is said that "'urushiha" (2:259) are its buildings.
Muhammad ibn Isma'il said, "I do not think that 'fa-hala' is exact." Then he said, "There is no doubt about 'fa-khala'."
XL. Eating palm core
5129. Mujahid reported that Ibn 'Umar said, "We were sitting with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when the core of a date-palm was brought to him. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'There is a tree which is like the Muslim.' I thought that he meant the palm tree and I wanted to say, 'It is the palm tree, Messenger of Allah.' Then I looked and I was one of ten and was the youngest of them and so I remained silent. The Prophet* said, 'It is the palm-tree.'"
XLI. 'Ajwa* dates
5130. It is related that Sa'd said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Whoever starts every morning with seven 'ajwa dates will not be harmed that day by poison or magic.'"
[*The best quality dates in Madina.]
XLII. Eating two dates at a time
5131. It is related that Jabala ibn Suhaym said, "While we were with Ibn az-Zubayr, we suffered a year of fame. He provided us with some dates which we used to eat. 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar would pass by us while we were eating and say, 'Do not eat two dates at the same time. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to forbid eating two dates at a time.' Then he added, 'Unless a man asks permission of his brother.'
Shu'ba said that the words about asking permission are Ibn 'Umar's words.
XLIII. Cucumbers
5132. It is related that 'Abdullah ibn Ja'far said, "I saw the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, eating fresh dates with cucumber."
XLIX. The blessing of the palm tree
5133. Mujahid reported from Ibn 'Umar that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "There is a tree among the trees which is like the Muslim. It is the palm tree."
XLV. Having two types of fruit or food at a time
5134. It is related that 'Abdullah ibn Ja'far said, "I saw the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, eating fresh dates with cucumber."
XLVI. The one who admitted guests in groups of ten, and sitting for food in groups of ten
5135. Abu Rabi'a Sinan reported from Anas that his mother, Umm Sulaym, took a mudd of barley which she should and used to make a porridge?. She squeezed over it a container (of ghee) which she had and then she sent me to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. When I reached him, he was sitting with his Companions. I invited him and he asked, 'And those with me?' I went back and said, 'He says, "And those with me?"' Abu Talha went to him and said, 'Messenger of Allah, it is something which Umm Sulaym has prepared.' He entered and it was brought. He said, 'Admit ten to me.' They entered and ate until they were full. Then he said, 'Admit ten to me.' They entered and ate until they were full. Then he said, 'Admit ten to me,' until he had counted forty people. Then the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ate and got up. Then I looked to see whether it had decreased at all."
XLVII. What is disliked of garlic and onions
It is reported from Ibn 'Umar from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace
5136. It is related that 'Abdu'l-'Aziz said, "Anas was asked, 'What did you hear the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say about garlic?' He answered, 'Whoever eats it should not come near out mosque.'"
5137. It is related that Jabir ibn 'Abdullah believed that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Anyone who eats garlic or onions should kept apart from us, or keep away from our mosque."
XLVIII. al-Kabath, the fruits of the Arak tree
5138. It is related from Abu Salama that Jabir ibn 'Abdullah said, "We were with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, at Marr az-Zahran collecting kabath fruit. He said, 'You must have the black ones. They are better.' It was asked, 'Have you herded sheep?' He answered, 'Yes, there is no Prophet who has not acted as a shepherd.'"
XLIX. Rinsing the mouth after food
5139. It is related that Suwayd ibn an-Nu'man said, "We set out for Khaybar with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. When we were at as-Sahba', the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked for food. Only sawiq was brought. We ate. Then he rose for the prayer and rinsed his mouth out and we did so as well."
Suwayd said, "We set out for Khaybar with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. When we were at as-Sahba' (and Yahya says that it a day's journey from Khaybar), the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked for food. Only sawiq was brought. We chewed and ate it. Then he called for water and rinsed his mouth out and we did so as well, and then he led us in Maghrib without repeating wudu'."
Sufyan said, "It is as if you heard it from Yahya."
L. Licking and sucking the fingers before wiping them with a handkerchief
5140. It is related from Ibn 'Abbas that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When one of you eats, he should not wipe his hand until you have licked it or have it licked."
LI. Handkerchiefs
5141. It is related from Sa'id ibn al-Harith that he asked 'Abdullah ibn Jabir about doing wudu' after eating cooked food. He said, "No. In the time of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, we only found that sort of food occasionally. when we found it, we did not have any handkerchiefs other than our palms, forearms and feet. Then we would pray without renewing wudu'."
LII. What one says when one finishes eating
5142. It is related from Abu Umama that when the table of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was removed, he would say, "Much praise be to Allah, good and blessed praise, for food which is not final or conclusive and of which we cannot dispense, our Lord."
5143. It is related that Abu Umama said that when the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, finished eating (and once he said, "when his table was removed), he would say, "Praise be Allah who has satisfied us and quenched our thirst with food that is not final and for which we are not ungrateful." Once he said, "Praise be to Allah, our Lord, for food which is not final or conclusive and of which we cannot dispense, our Lord."
LIII. Eating with servants
5144. It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When a servant of one of you brings him food, if he does not sit with him, he should at least give him a morsel or two - or a bite or two. He is the one who cooked it and prepared it."
LIV. The one who eats and is thankful is like the one who fasts and is steadfast
It is reported from Abu Hurayra from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.
LV. When a man is invited to eat asks, "May this one come with me?"
Anas said, "When you visit a Muslim who is not suspected, then eat his food and drink his drink.
5145. It is reported that Abu Mas'ud al-Badri said, "A man of the Ansar called Abu Shu'ayb had a slave who was a butcher. He went to the Prophet , may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he was with his Companions and recognised the signs of hunger in the face of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. He went to his slave who was a butcher and said, 'Prepare for me enough food for give so I can invite the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in a party of five.' Hr prepared a small meal for him and then he went and invited him. A man followed him and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Abu Shu'ayb, a man has followed us. If you like, you can give him permission, and if you like, I will leave him.' He said, 'I give him permission.'"
LVI. When supper is served, one should not rush eating it
5146. It is related from Ja'far ibn 'Amr ibn Umayya that his father, 'Amr ibn Umayya, informed him that he saw the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, cutting off a piece of a shoulder of mutton when he was called to the prayer. He put down the knife with which he was cutting it, stood up, and prayed without doing wudu'.
5147. It is related from Anas ibn Malik that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When supper is served and the iqama of the prayer is called, have the supper first."
The like is related from Ibn 'Umar from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.
It is related from Nafi' that once Ibn 'Umar was having supper while he could hear the imam reciting.
5148. It is related from 'A'isha that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "If the evening meal is served and the iqama for the prayer is given, then have the meal first."
Wuhayb ibn Sa'id reported from Hisham, "When the evening meal is set down."
LVII. The words of Allah Almighty, "And when you have eaten disperse." (33:53)
5149. It is related from Ibn Shihab that Anas said, "I am the one who knows best about the business of the Screen. Ubayy ibn Ka'b used to ask me about it. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was the bridegroom of Zaynab bint Jahsh. He married her in Madina and invited people to eat when it was well into the day. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sat and some men remained sitting with him after the people had left until the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, got up and walked off and I walked with him. He went as far the door of 'A'isha's room. Then he thought that they had left and returned and I returned with him. They were still sitting there. Then he went back and I went back with him again until he reached the door of 'A'isha's room. He went back and I went back with him and they had left. He let down a curtain between me and him, and the Screen was revealed.
Chapter 74. Book of the 'Aqiqa
I. Naming a child the day it is born if it will have no 'aqiqa, and doing tahnik* for a new-born
[1. Chewing something sweet, especially dates, and putting into the house of the infant and rubbing the top of the mouth.]
5150. It is related that Abu Musa said, "A son was born to me and I took him to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who named him Ibrahim, and rubbed his upper mouth with a date, prayed for blessing for him and then returned him to me." That was the oldest child of Abu Musa.
5151. It is related that 'A'isha said, "A child was brought to the Prophet , may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he rubbed its upper mouth with a date. The child urinated on him, and he poured water on it.
5152. It is related from Asma' bint Abi Bakr that she was pregnant with 'Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr in Makka. She said, "I left when I was at full term and I went to Madina and alighted at Quba' and gave birth to him at Quba'. Then I took him to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and put him in his lap. He called for a date which he chewed and then put some of its juice in his mouth. So the first thing which entered his stomach was the spit of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Then he rubbed his upper mouth with a date and prayed for him and asked for blessing on him. He was the first child born in Islam. They were very happy about him because they had been told that the Jews had bewitched them and they would not have any children."
5153. It is related that Anas ibn Malik said, "A son of Abu Talha became ill. Abu Talha went out and the child died. When Abu Talha returned, he asked, 'How is my son?' Umm Sulaym said, "He is calmer now than he has ever been.' She brought him supper and he ate and then he had sex with her. When he finished, she said, 'Bury the child.'
"In the morning Abu Talha went to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and told him. He asked, 'Did you have sex with your wife last night?' 'Yes,' he answered. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'O Allah, bless them!' and she had a boy. Abu Talha told me, 'Look after him until he is taken to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace." He took him to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and she sent some dates with him. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, took the child and asked, 'Is there anything with him?' They said, 'Yes, some dates.' So the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, took a date and chewed it and then too some of it from his mouth and put it in the child's mouth and then rubbed the top of his mouth with it and named him 'Abdullah."
It is related from Muhammad from Anas...
II. To remove harm from the child in the 'aqiqa
5154. It is related by Muhammad that Salman ibn 'Amir said, "There is an 'aqiqa offered for a boy."
It is related from Ibn Sirin from Salman from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and more than one person said it is related by ar-Rabab from Salman ibn 'Amir ad-Dabbi from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Yazid ibn Ibrahim related it from Ibn Sirin from Salman.
It is related that Salman ibn 'Amii said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'There is an 'aqiqa performed for a boy. Sacrifice blood for him and remove harm* from him."
[* The commentators say that this is either the hair on the infant's head when it is born or the foreskin which is removed through circumcision.]
5155. It is related that Habib ibn ash-Shahid said, "Ibn Sirin commanded me to ask al-Hasan from whom he had heard the hadith of the 'aqiqa.* I asked him and he said, 'From Samura ibn Jundub.'"
[*The hadith is: "The boy is in pawn for his 'aqiqa. A sacrifice is made for him on the seventh day, he is named and his head shaved." It is transmitted in the Sunan collections and at-Tirmidhi said that it is hasan sahih. Regarding the fact that al-Bukhari does not mention it, al-'Ayni says that it is so famous that it does not require mention.]
III. al-Fara'
5156. It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "There is no fara' and no 'atira."
Fara' is the first offspring which they used to sacrifice to their idols. 'Atira was in Rajab.
IV. al-'Atira
5157. It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "There is no fara' and no 'atira."
Fara' is the first offspring which they used to sacrifice to their idols. 'Atira was in Rajab.
['Atira was what they sacrificed on the 10th of Rajab to their idols.]