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THE MIRACULOUS FEAST DURING THE BATTLE OF THE TRENCH

521

“During the battle of Ahzab (the battle of the Trench) the Companions we were digging a trench when they struck a hard boulder; no one was able to break it. The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, was told about it and said: ‘I will go down to the trench.’ As he stood up it was noticed that he had tied a rock to his stomach (to prevent the pangs of hunger) – they had not eaten anything for three days. When he reached the trench he picked up a spade and struck the hard boulder with it and it shattered into sand.

Jabir asked the Prophet's permission to return to his home. When he reached his home he said to his wife: ‘I have seen the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, in such a (hungry) condition, I cannot bear it, have you anything to eat in the house?’ She told him: ‘I have some barley and a nanny goat.’ Jabir slaughtered the nanny goat and ground the barley, then put the meat into the cooking pot. When the broth was almost ready and the barley flour had been kneaded, Jabir went to the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, and said: ‘I have some food, O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, will you come with one or two others?’ He asked: ‘How is it?’ Jabir replied: ‘As I mentioned.’ The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said: ‘It is a lot and good, tell her not to take the pot off the fire nor the bread from the oven until I arrive.’ Then he said to the Emigrants and the Helpers: ‘Let us go, and they all stood up.’ Jabir returned to his wife and said: ‘The Blessings of Allah be upon you, the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, together with the Emigrants, the Helpers and others are coming!’ She asked: ‘Did he ask you (how much food there was)?’ Jabir replied: ‘Yes.’

The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, told his Companions: ‘Enter, but do not over-crowd.’ Then he started to break the bread into pieces and put some meat on top of it. Then he took some bread from the oven and some broth from the pot and poured it over it and asked his Companions to pass the food around. Then he went back to the pot and oven, uncovered them and did the same. He continued to do this until everyone had eaten their fill - and there was still some left over! Then he told Jabir's wife: ‘Eat some and send some as a gift to those who are hungry.’”

We are also informed:

At the time when the trench was being dug, Jabir noticed the signs of hunger on the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, so he returned to his wife and asked her ‘Have you any food in the house? I have seen signs of acute hunger in the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him,’ She brought out a leather bag in which there was a measure of barley; there was also a nanny goat they had reared. Jabir slaughtered the nanny goat and she prepared the flour for baking. Jabir cut the meat into pieces and put it in the cooking pot. Then as he was about to return to the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, to invite him his wife said (considering the small quantity of food): ‘Do not humiliate me in the eyes of the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, and those who are with him.’ When Jabir came to him he spoke to him in a low tone saying: ‘O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, we have slaughtered a nanny goat and have ground a measure of barley. Please come with a few people.’ Thereupon the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, announced for all his Companions to hear: ‘Companions of the Trench, Jabir has prepared a feast for you, so come, all of you.’ Then he told Jabir ‘Do not remove the pot from the fire, nor bake the bread until I arrive.’

Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Zaid the son of Arqam who related this.