Bukhari

Hadith Footnote: Upon witnessing this miracle, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam himself bore witness to his own prophethood. A miracle is from Allah the Exalted, which He manifests at the hands of His messengers to demonstrate their truthfulness.

It was for this reason that Umar radi Allahu anhu said what he did: if all the camels were slaughtered, then upon what would the Muslim soldiers ride, and traversing the entire journey on foot would be extremely difficult.

This suggestion was correct, so the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam accepted it. Afterwards, whatever rations remained for all the soldiers, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had them gathered together and supplicated for blessing (barakah), and Allah placed such blessing in it that it sufficed for all the soldiers.

The existence of miracles is a reality.

However, it is subject to Allah’s will; He manifests them at the hands of His chosen servants whenever He wills.

The messengers themselves have no independent authority in this matter.

﴿ذالكَ فضلُ اللہِ یؤتیهِ مَن یشاءُ﴾ Under this hadith, Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah writes:

“And in this hadith is the excellent character of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and his responding to whatever his companions requested of him, and their acting according to human custom in the need for provisions during travel. There is also a manifest virtue for Umar, indicating the strength of his certainty in the acceptance of the supplication of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and his good consideration for the Muslims. There is nothing in the Prophet’s sallallahu alayhi wa sallam response to their suggestion of slaughtering their camels that necessitates that they would be left without mounts, for it is possible that Allah would provide them with something to ride from war booty or the like. However, Umar’s suggestion was accepted in order to hasten the miracle of blessing that occurred in the food. A similar incident occurred for Umar regarding water, as narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah and others, and a reference to it will come in the chapter on the Signs of Prophethood, etc. (Fath al-Bari)”

That is, from this hadith, the noble character of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is illuminated, as well as the fact that he would immediately attend to any request made by the noble Companions radi Allahu anhum, and would fully consider their human needs for provisions and rations during travel.

From this, the virtue of Umar radi Allahu anhu is also established, in that he had complete certainty in the acceptance of the Prophet’s sallallahu alayhi wa sallam supplications, and his consideration for the Muslims was excellent.

He knew that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam’s suggestion to slaughter the camels was based on the possibility that even after slaughtering them, Allah the Exalted would arrange for them to have mounts through war booty or the like.

However, Umar radi Allahu anhu hastened for the Prophet’s sallallahu alayhi wa sallam supplication for blessing, so that, as a miracle, blessing would be obtained in the food and there would be no need to slaughter the camels.

A similar incident occurred for Umar radi Allahu anhu regarding water, which will be referenced in the Signs of Prophethood.

Some jurists have deduced from this hadith that, in times of high prices, the Imam (leader) can, by decree, have people’s surplus grain stores brought out for sale in the market.

This is because it is in the people’s best interest, not in keeping the grain hidden.

Hadith Commentary:
➊
Umar (radi Allahu anhu) was very sound in judgment. When he gave the suggestion that if the camels were slaughtered, then what would the mujahideen ride upon, and that covering the entire journey on foot would be extremely difficult—
since this suggestion was correct, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) accepted it:
and ordered the remaining provisions to be gathered.
He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) supplicated for blessing, so Allah, the Exalted, placed such blessing in it that it sufficed for all the mujahideen.
➋
From this hadith, it is also understood that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would take great care of the needs of his noble companions (radi Allahu anhum) during travel.
➌
Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) has established from this that one should keep provisions with oneself during travel.
Doing so is not contrary to reliance (tawakkul) upon Allah.
And Allah is the One whose help is sought.

Hadith Commentary:
In this hadith, a most significant prophetic miracle is mentioned: that Allah manifested a great sign of His power at the hands of His Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
Either the provisions were so little that people were ready to slaughter their mounts, or they increased to such an extent that everyone was able to fill according to his desire with ease.
Miracles of this kind occurred multiple times at the hands of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
The translation of the chapter is derived from the fact that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) ordered everyone’s provisions to be gathered together, and then each person took according to estimation; he did not distribute them by weighing or measuring.
Regarding the correspondence between the hadith and the chapter heading, the commentators of Bukhari write:
“And its correspondence to the chapter heading is taken from his statement: ‘They would come with the surplus of their provisions,’ and from his statement: ‘He supplicated and blessed it.’ For the gathering of their provisions is in the meaning of al-nahd, and the supplication of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) for blessing.”
(‘Ayni)
That is, the correspondence between the hadith and the chapter heading is from the phrase “they would come…” etc., meaning that on such occasions, all of them brought their provisions and gathered them together, and from the statement that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) supplicated for blessing in it.
Here, the gathering of their provisions is mentioned, and it is in the meaning of “nahd,” that is, everyone bringing and gathering their equal shares.
And in this, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) supplicated for blessing.
The word “nahd” or “nahada” means to advance, to become apparent, to face, to manifest, or to make something greater.
From this comes the word “tanahud.”
Its meaning is that all the companions of a journey collect a fixed amount of money or provisions so that the necessities of food during the journey are fulfilled equally from it. Here, such an incident is mentioned.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
This hadith clarifies that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) ordered the leftover travel provisions of the people to be gathered in one place. Then he supplicated for blessing in it, so the people took according to their needs, without any difference between more or less, even though there was variation in the amount of food collected. Then, each of them took their travel provisions by estimation. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) did not distribute it by measure or weight. This is also the heading chosen by Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah).

(2)
This hadith mentions one of the most important miracles of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam): that Allah, the Exalted, manifested a great sign of His power at the hand of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). The travel provisions were so little at first that the people were ready to slaughter their riding animals, but after the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) supplicated, so much blessing was placed in it that everyone took according to their need. Upon witnessing this blessing, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) declared: “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I am the Messenger of Allah.” Through this timely declaration, the people’s faith was strengthened and their good opinion regarding him was reinforced.