Lu'lu' wal-Marjan

Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that a person (referring to Abu Huraira himself) came to the service of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) hungry. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent him to the houses of his noble wives (so that they might feed him). The wives sent word back that they had nothing except water. Upon this, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Who will host him? An Ansari companion said: I will. So he took him to his home and said to his wife: Honor the guest of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The wife said: There is nothing in the house except the food for the children. He said: Whatever there is, bring it out, and light the lamp, and if the children ask for food, put them to sleep. The wife brought out the food and lit the lamp, and put the children (to bed) hungry. Then she pretended as if she was fixing the lamp, but she extinguished it. After that, both husband and wife pretended to the guest as if they were eating with him, but both of them (along with their children) spent the night hungry. In the morning, when that companion came to the service of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Allah laughed (was pleased) at your good deed last night (and said that He) liked it. Upon this, Allah revealed this verse: "And they (the Ansar) give preference to others over themselves, even though they themselves are in need. And whoever is saved from the greed of his soul, then such are the successful."