Sahih Muslim 2057

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) went out on the day of Adha or Fitr and observed two rakahs, and did not observe prayer (at that place) before and after that. He then came to the women along with Bilal and commanded them to give alms and the women began to give their rings and necklaces. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Shuba with the same chain of transmitters.

The people of Suffa were very poor. Once the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said (to his Companions): He who amongst you has food for two persons should take three (guests with him). and he who has with him food for four persons should take five or six (guests with him for entertaining them). It was (in accordance with these instructions of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)) that Abu Bakr brought three persons, and the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) brought ten persons (as guests to their respective houses).

Abu Bakr had brought three persons (he himself, and myself), my father and my mother (along with therm). He (the narrator) said: I do not know whether he also said: My wife and one servant who was common between our house and that of Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr had had his evening meal with the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).

He stayed here until night prayer had been offered. He then came back (to the house of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)) and stayed there until the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) felt drowsy and (Abu Bakr) then came (back to his own house) when (a considerable) part of the night had been over, as Allah had desired.

His wife said to him: What held you back from your guests? He said: Oh! have you not served them the evening meal (by this time)? She said: It was in fact served to them. but they refused to eat until you came.

He (Abd al-Rahman) said: I slunk away and bid myself. He (Abu Bakr) said: O, you stupid fellow, and he reprimanded me, and said to the guests: Eat, though it may not be pleasant now.

He said: By Allah. I will never eat it He (Abd al-Rahman) said: By Allah. we did not take a morsel when from beneath that (there appeared) more until they had eaten to their fill, and lo! it was more than what it was before. Abu Bakr saw that and found that it was so or more than that.

He said to his wife: Sister of Band Firis, what is th-is? She said: By the coolness of my eyes. it is in excess by three times over the previous one. Then Abu Bakr ate saying: That was from the Satan (viz. his vow for not eating the food). He then took a morsel out of that and then took it (the rest) to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), and it was kept there until morning, and during (those days) there was a covenant between us and some other people, and the period of covenant was over, and we had appointed twelve officials with every person amongst them.

It is Allah only Who knows as to how many people were there with each of them. He sent (this food to them) and all of them ate out of it.

There came to our house some guests. It was a common practice with my father to (go) and talk to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) during the night.

While going he said: Abd al-Rahman, entertain the guests. When it was evening we served the food to them, but they refused saying: So long as the owner of the house does not come and join us, we would not take the meal.

I said to them: He (Abd Bakr) is a stern person, and if you would not do that (if you do not take the food). I fear, I may be harmed by him, but they refused. As he (my father) came, the first thing he asked was: Have you served the guests?

They (the peopleof the household) said: We have not served them sofar. He said: Did I not command Abd al-Rahman (to do this)? He (Abd al-Rahman) said: I slunk away and kept myself away by that time.

He again said: O stupid fellow, I ask you on oath that In case you hear my voice you come to me. I came and said: By Allah, there is no fault of mine. These are your guests; you may ask them. I provided them with food but they refused to eat until you came.

He said to them: Why is it that you did not accept our food? By Allah, I shall not even take food tonight (as you have not taken). They said: By Allah, we would not take until you join us.

Thereupon he Abu Bakr) said: I have never seen a more unfortunate night than this. Woe be to thee! that you do not accept from us food prepared for you. He again said: What I did first (that is the taking of vow for not eating the food) was prompted by the Satan. Bring the food. The food was brought, and he ate by reciting the name of Allah and they also ate, and when it was morning he came to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and said: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), their oath (that of the guests) came to be true, but mine was not true, and after that he informed him of the whole incident.

He said: Your oath came to be the most true and you are the best of them. He (the narrator) said. I do not know whether he made an atonement for it.