Chapter: How the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions used to live, and their renunciation of this world.

The Reciter: Chapter: How the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions used to live, and their renunciation of this world. Abu Nu'aym narrated to me something like half of this hadith. He said: 'Umar ibn Dharr narrated to us that Mujahid said that Abu Hurayrah used to say: "By Allah, in whom there is no god but He, I used to press my liver against the ground from hunger, and I used to tie a stone to my belly from hunger. I once sat on the road from which they used to come out. Abu Bakr passed by, and I asked him about a verse from the Book of Allah; I did not ask him except to make him feed me. He passed by and did not do so. Then 'Umar passed by, and I asked him about a verse from the Book of Allah; I did not ask him except to make him feed me. He passed by and did not do so. Then Abu al-Qasim (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by, and he smiled when he saw me and knew what was in my heart and on my face. Then he said: I said: 'At your service, O Messenger of Allah.' He said: And he went on, so I followed him. He entered, and I asked permission, and he gave me permission, so I entered. He found milk in a cup and said: They said: 'So-and-so or so-and-so sent it to you as a gift.' He said: I said: 'At your service, O Messenger of Allah.' He said: He said: The people of the Sufah were the guests of Islam; they had no homes, no wealth, and no one to rely on. When charity came to them, they would send it to them and not take anything from it. And when a gift came to them, they would send it to them and take some of it and share it with them. This distressed me, and I said: 'What is this milk for the people of the Sufah? I was more deserving to have a sip of this milk to strengthen myself, and then when it came to me, I would give it to them. And what is likely to reach me from this milk? And there was no alternative to obeying Allah and obeying His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). So I went to them and invited them. They came and asked permission, and he gave them permission, and they took their places in the house. He said: I said: 'At your service, O Messenger of Allah.' He said: So I took the cup and began to give it to a man, and he would drink until he was satisfied, then he would return the cup to me. I would give it to another man, and he would drink until he was satisfied, then he would return the cup to me. He would drink until he was satisfied, then he would return the cup to me, until I reached the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and all the people had been satisfied. He took the cup and placed it on his hand, then he looked at me and smiled and said: I said: 'At your service, O Messenger of Allah.' He said: I said: 'You have spoken the truth, O Messenger of Allah.' He said: So I sat and drank. He said: So I drank. He kept saying: 'Drink' until I said: 'No, by Him who sent you with the truth, I find no passage for it.' He said: 'Show me.' So I gave him the cup, and he praised Allah, mentioned His name, and drank the remainder.