Bukhari

Chapter of Sahih Bukhari Hadith Number: 5392: «بَابُ طَعَامُ الْوَاحِدِ يَكْفِي الاِثْنَيْنِ:»
Relevance between the Chapter and the Hadith:
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has clarified in the chapter heading that the food of one person suffices for two, whereas the hadith he has presented under this chapter relates to the food of two sufficing for three people. Therefore, the relevance between the chapter heading and the hadith is difficult to establish.

Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah, resolving this issue, writes:
«واستشكل الجمع بين الترجمة والحديث، فان قضية الترجمة مرجعها النصف وقضية الحديث مرجعها الثلث ثم الربع وأجيب بأن أشار بالترجمة الى لفظ حديث اٰخر ورد ليس على شرطه .» [فتح الباري لابن حجر : 457/10]
“It has been considered difficult to find the relevance between the chapter heading and the hadith because the subject of the chapter refers to half (i.e., the food of one suffices for two), while the subject of the hadith refers to a third or a quarter (i.e., the food of two suffices for three, and the food of three suffices for four). The answer given is that through the chapter heading, reference is made to another hadith which is not according to Imam Bukhari’s conditions (which Imam Muslim rahimahullah has narrated, and in it are clear words that the food of one person suffices for two).”

Ibn al-Munir rahimahullah says:
«ورد حديث بلفظ الترجمة، لكنه لم يوافق بشرط البخاري، فاستقرأ معناه من حديث الباب .» [لب اللباب : 271/4]
“Imam Bukhari rahimahullah included in the chapter heading the very words of the hadith, but that hadith was not according to his conditions, so he maintained its meaning in the chapter heading.”
According to Imam Ibn al-Munir rahimahullah, the words Imam Bukhari rahimahullah quoted in the chapter heading are those of the hadith, but he did not mention that hadith under the chapter because it was not according to his conditions.

Ibn al-Mulaqqin rahimahullah says:
«وأخرجه مسلم والترمذي وقال : حسن، صحيح، والنسائي ولفظ الترجمة أخرجه الترمذي من حديث جابر مرفوعاً : طعام الواحد يكفي الاثنين، وطعام الاثنين يكفي الأربعة، وطعام الأربعة يكفي الثمانين .» [التوضيح لشرح الجامع الصحيح : 26]
“(The hadith for which Imam Bukhari rahimahullah established this chapter) has been narrated by Imam Muslim rahimahullah and Tirmidhi rahimahullah, and Tirmidhi has said it is hasan, sahih, and in Nasa’i and Tirmidhi the words are (as in the chapter heading), from Jabir radi Allahu anhu in marfu‘ form, that the food of one suffices for two, the food of two suffices for four, and the food of four suffices for eight people.”

‘Allamah ‘Ayni rahimahullah says:
«وهذه الترجمة لفظ حديث أخرجه ابن ماجة باسناده من حديث عمر مرفوعاً وروى الطبراني من حديث ابن عمر رضى الله عنهما قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كلوا جميعا ولا تفرقوا، فان طعام الواحد يكفي الاثنين .» [عمدة القاري للعيني : 63/21]
“That is, the chapter heading upon which this hadith is based has been narrated by Ibn Majah with his chain in marfu‘ form, and Imam Tabarani has narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Umar radi Allahu anhuma that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: ‘Eat together and do not be separate, for indeed the food of one person suffices for two people.’”

‘Allamah Qastallani rahimahullah writes:
“Imam Bukhari rahimahullah, in the chapter heading, has indicated towards the hadith which Imam Muslim rahimahullah has narrated.” [ارشاد الساري : 187/92]

The summary of these quotations is that the words mentioned in the chapter heading are actually from a hadith, and that hadith was not according to Imam Bukhari rahimahullah’s conditions, so he merely indicated towards it. However, the summary of all these ahadith is that a small amount of food sufficing for many people is what is intended by the chapter heading.

Hadith Commentary:

That is, three people can be content with the food of two, and four people can be content with the food of three.

Apparently, the hadith does not correspond to the translation of the chapter heading, but Imam Bukhari rahimahullah, according to his usual practice, has indicated towards another chain of this hadith, which Imam Muslim has narrated.

In that narration, it is clearly stated that the food of one person suffices for two.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
The food that suffices two people can also suffice three people if they are content.
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah, through his chapter heading, has alluded to a hadith in which the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:
“The food of one is enough for two, the food of two is enough for three or four, and the food of four is enough for five or six people.”
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Al-At’imah, Hadith: 3255)
In a narration of Tabarani, the reason for this is mentioned: Eat together collectively and do not eat separately, for the food of one is enough for two.
(Al-Mu’jam Al-Awsat by Tabarani, no. 7444, and Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah by Al-Albani, no. 2691)
From this, it is understood that there is blessing (barakah) in collectiveness.
The greater the collectiveness, the greater the increase in blessing.
(2)
This hadith indicates that there is blessing in compassion, the benefit of which reaches all those present; therefore, one should make arrangements for collectiveness when eating.
(Fath al-Bari: 9/663)

Hadith Commentary:
Benefits and Issues:
The purpose of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is to teach the Ummah contentment and compassion, that even if the food is little, one should still adopt an attitude of sharing and sympathy with others.
The food of two people
can suffice for three or four,
and this depends on broad-mindedness and generosity.
The greater the capacity of the heart,
the greater the blessing will be,
because it is not necessary to eat to fullness at all times and in every situation.
A person can sometimes manage with a small amount of food as well;
all that is needed is determination,
which arises from the spirit of sharing and compassion.

Takhrij al-Hadith:
[وأخرجه البخاري 5392، ومسلم 178/2058، من حديث مالك به]

Explanation:
➊ One should eat little food. Even if the food is little, one should generously include others in it.
➋ This hadith also alludes to sincerity and unity, meaning that Muslims should remain united with one another.
➌ Generosity is a cause of blessing.

Benefit:
This hadith proves that when those eating are believers, the food sufficient for two suffices for three; however, when those eating are disbelievers or sinners (fussaq), the food for two does not even suffice for one.