Hadith 2477

حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنِي عُمَرُ بْنُ ذَرٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُجَاهِدٌ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ : " كَانَ أَهْلُ الصُّفَّةِ أَضْيَافُ أَهْلِ الْإِسْلَامِ لَا يَأْوُونَ عَلَى أَهْلٍ وَلَا مَالٍ ، وَاللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ، إِنْ كُنْتُ لَأَعْتَمِدُ بِكَبِدِي عَلَى الْأَرْضِ مِنَ الْجُوعِ ، وَأَشُدُّ الْحَجَرَ عَلَى بَطْنِي مِنَ الْجُوعِ ، وَلَقَدْ قَعَدْتُ يَوْمًا عَلَى طَرِيقِهِمُ الَّذِي يَخْرُجُونَ فِيهِ ، فَمَرَّ بِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ آيَةٍ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ مَا أَسْأَلُهُ إِلَّا لِتَسْتَتْبِعَنِي ، فَمَرَّ وَلَمْ يَفْعَلْ ، ثُمَّ مَرَّ بِي عُمَرُ ، فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ آيَةٍ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ مَا أَسْأَلُهُ إِلَّا لِيَسْتَتْبِعَنِي فَمَرَّ وَلَمْ يَفْعَلْ ، ثُمَّ مَرَّ أَبُو الْقَاسِمِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : فَتَبَسَّمَ حِينَ رَآنِي ، وَقَالَ : أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ، قُلْتُ : لَبَّيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، قَالَ : الْحَقْ ، وَمَضَى فَاتَّبَعْتُهُ وَدَخَلَ مَنْزِلَهُ فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ فَأَذِنَ لِي فَوَجَدَ قَدَحًا مِنْ لَبَنٍ ، فَقَالَ : مِنْ أَيْنَ هَذَا اللَّبَنُ لَكُمْ ، قِيلَ : أَهْدَاهُ لَنَا فُلَانٌ ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ، قُلْتُ : لَبَّيْكَ ، فَقَالَ : الْحَقْ إِلَى أَهْلِ الصُّفَّةِ فَادْعُهُمْ وَهُمْ أَضْيَافُ الْإِسْلَامِ لَا يَأْوُونَ عَلَى أَهْلٍ وَلَا مَالٍ إِذَا أَتَتْهُ صَدَقَةٌ بَعَثَ بِهَا إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَمْ يَتَنَاوَلْ مِنْهَا شَيْئًا ، وَإِذَا أَتَتْهُ هَدِيَّةٌ أَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِمْ فَأَصَابَ مِنْهَا وَأَشْرَكَهُمْ فِيهَا ، فَسَاءَنِي ذَلِكَ وَقُلْتُ : مَا هَذَا الْقَدَحُ بَيْنَ أَهْلِ الصُّفَّةِ وَأَنَا رَسُولُهُ إِلَيْهِمْ ، فَسَيَأْمُرُنِي أَنْ أُدِيرَهُ عَلَيْهِمْ ، فَمَا عَسَى أَنْ يُصِيبَنِي مِنْهُ وَقَدْ كُنْتُ أَرْجُو أَنْ أُصِيبَ مِنْهُ مَا يُغْنِينِي ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ بُدٌّ مِنْ طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ وَطَاعَةِ رَسُولِهِ ، فَأَتَيْتُهُمْ فَدَعَوْتُهُمْ ، فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَأَخَذُوا مَجَالِسَهُمْ ، فَقَالَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ : خُذْ الْقَدَحَ وَأَعْطِهِمْ فَأَخَذْتُ الْقَدَحَ ، فَجَعَلْتُ أُنَاوِلُهُ الرَّجُلَ فَيَشْرَبُ حَتَّى يَرْوَى ، ثُمَّ يَرُدُّهُ ، فَأُنَاوِلُهُ الْآخَرَ حَتَّى انْتَهَيْتُ بِهِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَقَدْ رَوَى الْقَوْمُ كُلُّهُمْ ، فَأَخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْقَدَحَ فَوَضَعَهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ ، فَتَبَسَّمَ , فَقَالَ : أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ اشْرَبْ ، فَشَرِبْتُ ، ثُمَّ قَالَ : اشْرَبْ ، فَلَمْ أَزَلْ أَشْرَبُ وَيَقُولُ : اشْرَبْ حَتَّى قُلْتُ : وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا أَجِدُ لَهُ مَسْلَكًا ، فَأَخَذَ الْقَدَحَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَسَمَّى ثُمَّ شَرِبَ " , قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى : هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
´Abu Hurairah narrated:` "The people of As-Suffah were the guests of the people of Islam,they had nothing of people nor wealth to rely upon. And By Allah, the One Whom there is none worthy of worship besides Him – I would lay on the ground on my liver (side) due to hunger, And I would fasten a stone to my stomach out of hunger. One day I sat by the way that they (the Companions) use to come out through. Abu Bakr passed and so I asked him about an Ayah from Allah's Book, not asking him except that he might tell me to follow him (for something to eat). But he passed on without doing so. Then `Umar passed, so I asked him about an Ayah from Allah's Book, not asking him except that he might tell me to follow him. But he passed on without doing so. Then Abul-Qasim (s.a.w) passed, and he smiled when he saw me, and said: 'Abu Hurairah?' I said: 'I am here O Messenger of Allah!' He said: 'Come along.' He continued and I followed him, he entered his house, so I sought permission to enter, and he permitted me. He found a bowl of milk and said: 'Where did this milk come from?' It was said: 'It was a gift to us from so – and – so.' So the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'O Abu Hurairah' I said: 'I am here O Messenger of Allah!' He said: 'Go to the people of As-Suffah to invite them.' - Now, they were the guests of the people of Islam, they had nothing of people nor wealth to rely upon. Whenever some charity was brought to him, he would send it to them without using any of it. And when a gift was given to him (s.a.w), he would send for them to participate and share with him in it. I became upset about that, and I said (to myself): 'What good will this bowl be among the people of As-Suffah and I am the one bringing it to them?' Then he ordered me to circulate it among them (So I wondered) what of it would reach me from it, and I hoped that I would get from it what would satisfy me. But I would certainly not neglect to obey Allah and obey His Messenger, so I went to them and invited them. When they entered upon him they sat down. He said: 'Abu Hurairah, take the bowl and give it to them.' So I gave it to a man who drank his fill, then he gave it to another one, until it ended up with the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w), and all of the people had drank their fill. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) took the bowl, put it on his hand,then raised his head. He smiled and said: 'Abu Hurairah, drink.' So I drank, then he said: 'Drink.' I kept drinking and he kept on saying, 'Drink.' Then I said: 'By the One Who sent you with the truth! I have no more space for it.' So he took the bowl and praised Allah, mentioned His Name and drank.'” (Sahih)
Hadith Reference سنن ترمذي / كتاب صفة القيامة والرقائق والورع عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم / 2477
Hadith Grading الألبانی: صحيح
Hadith Takhrij «صحیح البخاری/الاستئذان 14 (6246) (مختصرا) والرقاق 17 (6452) ( تحفة الأشراف : 14344) (صحیح)»
Related hadith on this topic
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Dr. Abdur Rahman Freywai
Explanation: 1:

From this hadith, it is understood that special care should be taken of those who do not have family dependents or wealth. The love of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam for the Ashab al-Suffah was a result of this special consideration. Whenever a gift would come to you, you would include others in it as well. The abundance of milk is evidence of the miracle of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. It is also understood from this that a guest should be encouraged to eat and drink more, and if the quantity of food is sufficient, then eating and drinking to one's fill is also permissible.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi – Majlis ‘Ilmi Dar al-Da‘wah, New Delhi Edition, Page: 2477
Maulana Dawood Raz
Hadith Commentary:
A platform was constructed under the canopy of the Prophet’s Mosque (Masjid Nabawi), upon which the homeless and shelterless seekers of knowledge of the Qur’an and Hadith used to reside; these were the Ashab al-Suffah.
Among them was also Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu. In this hadith, there is mention of a manifest and blessed miracle granted to him.
When Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu entertained the thought of impatience—wondering whether any milk would remain for him or not—the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam smiled at this.
Truly, as it is said: ﴿خُلِقَ الانسانُ ھَلُوعاً﴾ ().
Source: Sahih Bukhari: Commentary by Maulana Dawood Raz, Page: 6452
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary:
(1)
There was a platform in the Prophet’s Mosque where some poor people without homes, shelter, or families used to live, who were called the People of the Bench (Ashab al-Suffah). Among them was Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu, who had devoted himself solely to the acquisition of the knowledge of hadith.

(2)
In this hadith, there is an open miracle of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, that more than seventy People of the Bench became full from just one bowl of milk. Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu displayed a bit of impatience, fearing that perhaps no milk would remain for him, which is why the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam smiled.

(3)
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah, through this lengthy hadith, has presented a mere glimpse of the Prophetic era, showing how the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and his devoted Companions radi Allahu anhum used to subsist at that time. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam preferred poverty and hardship over luxury and comfort, as is mentioned in the hadith that a man came to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and said: “I love you.” The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “See what you are saying.” He repeated: “By Allah, I love you.” He repeated this statement three times. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “If you are truthful in your claim, then prepare a shield to face poverty, for indeed, poverty rushes towards the one who loves me faster than a flood.” (Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Zuhd, Hadith: 2350)
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 6452
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary:
(1)
When someone is invited, there are two possible scenarios regarding their arrival:
One is that the person comes along with the messenger; in this case, there is no need to seek permission to enter, as is evident from the chapter heading.
If, however, the person does not come with the messenger but arrives alone, then he must seek permission before entering, as clarified in the presented hadith: the people of Suffah did not come with Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu, rather, they came alone after him. Because the wording of the hadith is "they came," it is clear that after Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu called them, the people of Suffah came individually; therefore, they had to seek permission.
This is clarified in another hadith, in which the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:
"When someone is invited and comes along with the messenger, then that itself is his permission."
(al-Adab al-Mufrad, Hadith: 1075)
(2)
According to our inclination, this issue can be resolved in light of the prevailing circumstances and conditions; however, caution demands that one should seek permission before entering.
And Allah knows best.
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 6246