Ibn Majah

Benefits and Issues:

➊
The profession of this slave was tailoring. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Al-At’imah, Chapter: The Broth, Hadith: 5436)

➋
The Arabs used to cut meat into long pieces and dry it, and then use it as needed.
This is called “qadeed.”
The meat in question was of this type. (Reference as above)

➌
With this stew, a barley bread was presented to make tharid. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Al-At’imah, Chapter: Whoever Passed or Presented Something to His Companion at the Table, Hadith: 5439)

➍
One should also accept the invitation of a person of lower status.

➎
Eating together with a servant expresses humility and is an avoidance of pride and arrogance; therefore, it is a good habit.

➏
Considering the preference of a teacher or elder is also included among good manners.

➐
Giving and accepting gifts is commendable.

➑
After accepting a gift, it can be given to others.

Hadith Commentary:

That he (the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was seeking out and eating the gourd (kaddu), and the servant, after placing the food on the dining mat, became occupied with another task and did not sit to eat together.

From this, the issue of the chapter is established.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
Although it is a moral obligation for the host to sit with the guest during the meal so that any need of the guest can be fulfilled, it is not necessary, as indicated by the aforementioned hadith in which the tailor’s servant presented food to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and himself remained occupied with his work.
(2)
From this, it is understood that it is not obligatory for the host to sit and eat with the guest. However, if the guest insists that the host eat with him, then in such circumstances, staying back is contrary to good manners, as was the case when the guests of Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) insisted.
(Fath al-Bari: 9/696)

Hadith Commentary:
Because it was beloved to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
This is the very sign of faith: that whatever the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam liked, a Muslim should also like.
It is narrated from Imam Abu Yusuf, the student of Imam Abu Hanifah rahimahullah, that a person said: “The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam liked bottle gourd, but I do not like it.”
Imam Abu Yusuf said: “Bring the sword for the neck; this person has become an apostate, and he should be executed, which is the punishment for apostasy.”
From here, followers (muqallids) should take a lesson: their Imam Yusuf declared that even saying such a statement regarding the Sunnahs related to eating and drinking is disbelief (kufr). Then, regarding the Sunnahs of worship, such as saying “Ameen” aloud (Ameen bil-jahr) and raising the hands (raf‘ al-yadayn), which are Prophetic Sunnahs—
If someone were to utter such a statement about them and show contempt for these Sunnahs, how sinful would he be, and what could his punishment be in the Shari‘ah?
It should be remembered that to show contempt for even a small Sunnah of the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is disbelief (kufr). Then, how regrettable it is for those so-called scholars who, in order to mislead the common Muslims, have labeled those who act upon the Prophetic Sunnah with derogatory titles.
Some call the Ahl al-Hadith “non-followers” (ghayr muqallid), some call them “irreligious” (la madhhab), some call them “Wahhabi,” and some label them as “Ameen-walas.”
All these titles, when uttered with the intention of insult, reach the level of a major sin (kabirah).
May Allah Ta‘ala grant such people righteous guidance so that they refrain from ruining their Hereafter by insulting the Sunnahs of the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
(Ameen)

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was very fond of bottle gourd (kadu).
Hazrat Anas radi Allahu anhu narrates that I would search for pieces of bottle gourd and present them before him, and I would not eat them myself so that he could eat them.
After this, whenever Hazrat Anas radi Allahu anhu prepared a curry, he would always include bottle gourd in it.
(Sahih Muslim, Al-Ashribah, Hadith: 5325, 5326, 5327 (2041))

(2)
From this hadith, it is understood that when a person eats with his family and servants, he may pick and choose from the dish wherever he wishes, provided that those eating with him do not dislike it. Otherwise, he should eat only from what is in front of him.
(Fath al-Bari: 9/651)

Hadith Commentary: Tharid is the best food, which is easily digestible, of excellent composition, and strengthening. And bottle gourd (kadu) is an extremely fine vegetable. In hot countries, such as Arabia, its consumption is very beneficial. It alleviates heat, benefits the liver, quenches thirst, and is neither constipating nor does it produce wind. It is a quickly digestible and excellent nourishment. Because the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) liked it, it is very beloved to the people of faith, and it is the embodiment of “together dates and together reward”—that is, whatever the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) likes, to like it in every case is a sign of faith. It is astonishing regarding those rigid followers (muqallidin jamidin) who loudly claim love for the Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), yet in practice are not only deprived of many Prophetic practices (sunan nabawiyyah) but even harbor aversion towards them. Such followers should reflect on what face they will show the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) on the Day of Judgment.

Hadith Commentary:
When pieces of bread are added to a broth of meat and gourd (kaddu) to prepare tharid, it becomes a very excellent and delicious food.
In hot climates, this type of food is very beneficial; it quenches thirst and removes the heat of the liver.
It does not cause constipation; rather, it is food that is digested quickly.
It does not produce flatulence.
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) greatly liked this type of food.
From this, it is also established that gourd (kaddu) is an excellent vegetable.
Because the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) liked it, the people of faith also like it.
And Allah is the One whose help is sought.

Hadith Commentary:
In one narration, it is mentioned that Anas radi Allahu anhu used to eat bottle gourd (kadu) and would say, "It is the tree that is most beloved to me because the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam loved it."
Imam Ahmad has narrated that bottle gourd was the most preferred of all foods to him (the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
Aishah radi Allahu anha narrated that the Noble Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, "Add more bottle gourd to the pot, for it removes a person's sorrow."
In one hadith, it is stated: "Bottle gourd and dates—both are fruits of Paradise."
In another hadith, it is mentioned that bottle gourd strengthens the mind.
In another hadith, it is stated that bottle gourd strengthens the eyesight and illuminates the heart.

Hadith Commentary:
Medically, pumpkin (kadu) possesses several qualities due to which the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam liked it.

Jabir radi Allahu anhu says that once I went to the house of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and saw pumpkins there.
I asked:
What is this? He replied:
"This is pumpkin.
We use it abundantly in our food."
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Al-At'imah, Hadith: 3304)

It is narrated from Anas radi Allahu anhu that the favorite food of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was pumpkin.
(Musnad Ahmad: 204/3)

Hadith Commentary:
The meat is cleaned, then salt is applied to its pieces and it is dried in the sun.
This dried meat is called "qadeed" in the Arabic language.
Some women boil the meat and then dry it, after which it can be used for a long time.
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and the righteous predecessors (salaf salihin) used to consume dried meat.
Nowadays, it is the era of freezers, in which it is preserved, and thus remains usable for many months.

Hadith Commentary:
Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah has derived the chapter heading from this narration of Shumamah, because it is established from this that a person sharing a dining spread may give food to another person sitting at that same spread, whether the food is in one vessel or in separate vessels. However, it is also necessary that the one whose food is being given consents to it.
If someone is already satisfied (full), then giving him food without his permission would be incorrect.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
From the narration of Thumamah, Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has established the chapter heading that a person at a dining spread may hand food to another person sitting at the same spread, whether the food is in a single vessel or in separate vessels. However, it is also necessary that the person to whom the food is being given is willing and desirous of it, because if someone is already full, giving them more food would be an imposition upon them. Doing so without their permission is not permissible.
And Allah knows best.

Hadith Commentary:
This is the very demand of love: that whatever the beloved likes, the lover should also like.
It is true:
Indeed, the lover is obedient to the one he loves.
May Allah make us among them, Ameen.

Explanation:
Hazrat Imam Malik bin Anas bin Asbahi is famous by the title "Imam of the Abode of Migration" (Imam Dar al-Hijrah).
He was born in the year 95 AH and passed away at the age of 84 in the year 179 AH.
Shah Waliullah rahimahullah states that when the chain of narration (isnad) of any hadith reaches Hazrat Imam Malik rahimahullah, that hadith attains the highest level of authenticity.
A thousand scholars, such as Hazrat Imam Shafi'i and Hazrat Harun Rashid, and others, are among his students.

Hadith Commentary:
In this hadith, broth (shorba) is mentioned. In fact, in another hadith, it is explicitly stated that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
“When you cook a pot, increase its broth, and include water for your neighbor’s share as well.”
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, Al-At‘imah, Hadith: 1833)

In a lengthy hadith narrated from Jabir (radi Allahu anhu), it is mentioned that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) slaughtered one hundred camels, then took meat from each camel and cooked it. From this, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and ‘Ali (radi Allahu anhu) ate, and then both of them drank its broth.
(Sahih Muslim, Al-Hajj, Hadith: 2950 (1218))

Hadith Commentary:
Because this was beloved to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
Bottle gourd (kadu) is an excellent vegetable; that is, long bottle gourd is cold and moist in temperament, repels fever and palpitations, and removes heat and dryness from the body, and relieves constipation and hemorrhoids.
Pumpkin (peetha) also has the same properties.
Although eating bottle gourd is not a religious act such that its following is obligatory, yet love for the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) demands that every Muslim should have an inclination towards bottle gourd, just as Anas (radi Allahu anhu) did.
(Wahidi)
The Companion who invited the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was a tailor.
He used to work as a tailor.
From this, Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) established the permissibility of working as a tailor.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
The profession of tailoring is of a different nature from other crafts because a goldsmith or blacksmith only takes wages for their labor, whereas in the tailoring profession, the thread and buttons, etc., are provided by the tailor himself.
In addition, the sewing machine has a separate fee, but these cannot be separated from each other.
In other words, both trade and craft are combined in this profession.

(2)
In the presence of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), a tailor invited him to partake in a meal, and he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) honored the invitation by accepting it.
No objection was raised to this.
This alone is sufficient for the permissibility of this profession.
(‘Umdat al-Qari: 8/363)

(3)
It should be noted that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was very fond of gourd (pumpkin) cooked with meat; in any case, it is an excellent vegetable and, from a natural perspective, is very beneficial and advantageous. It is useful for fever, palpitation, constipation, and hemorrhoids, and also prevents dryness and heat.

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: Cooking bottle gourd (kadu) and meat together is an excellent and beneficial meal. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), acting with selflessness towards his companions, preferred to eat the bottle gourd so that the other companions could eat the meat. Clearly, in such a situation, taking the lesser item from in front of others and leaving the better item for them is a commendable act. However, taking the best item from in front of others and leaving the lesser for them is not commendable. Therefore, in the case of assorted foods or fruits, for the sake of variety or to leave the better for others, one may take from what is in front of them. But taking the preferred and better item from in front of others cannot be considered commendable. From this, Anas (radi Allahu anhu) understood that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) liked bottle gourd very much, so he also began to like bottle gourd. In any case, liking something that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) liked, out of love and devotion for him, is a commendable act. Otherwise, due to different temperaments, people may differ in their preferences, and from a jurisprudential and legal perspective, a person is not bound to have the same preference as the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Doing so purely out of love and devotion for him becomes a commendable act.

Benefits and Issues:
➊
The extreme love of the noble Companions (radi Allahu anhum ajma'in) for the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was manifested in that, apart from religious matters, they would also emulate him in ordinary habits.
And the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would also accept their invitations without distinction.
Furthermore, there is no fault in adopting the profession of tailoring.

➋
In another hadith, it is mentioned that one should eat from what is in front of oneself.
The reconciliation between these ahadith is as follows: when there are various items in the food, and someone wishes to seek out and eat something of relatively lower status, which the companions sharing the meal do not find objectionable, then it is permissible.
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) trained his companions in such a way that even food of lesser value should be eaten with eagerness.
Because every item has its own benefits,
which cannot be ignored.
And now, modern nutritional science has, in its own way, clarified especially the benefits of vegetables, thereby highlighting the wisdom of the Sunnah of the Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).

Benefit:
From this hadith, it is understood that the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam liked bottle gourd (kadu), and whatever the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam liked, the noble Companions radi Allahu anhum ajma'in also liked. When the noble Companions radi Allahu anhum ajma'in liked the things preferred by the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam in worldly matters, then why would they not like them in religious matters?