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HUNGER OF ABU HURAIRAH AND THE MIRACULOUS CUP OF MILK

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“Abu Hurairah said: ‘By Allah, there is no other god except Him, I would press my stomach against the ground on account of hunger, or tie a stone upon it.

One day I was sitting by the side of the road when the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, passed by, he smiled when he saw me and realized from my face the condition I was in. He spoke to me and I replied: 'Obedient to you, O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him.’ He said: 'Come with me’ and walked on and I followed him.'

We went to his home and he asked the permission of those inside to enter and then gave me permission to enter. Inside the house he found a cup of milk and asked: 'Where has this milk come from' and was told that it was a gift for him from so and so. He spoke to me and I replied: 'Obedient to you, O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him.' He said: 'Go to my Companions, the Suffa and bring them here.' These people were men who had neither family, property, nor relatives so they lived as guests with other Muslims. When the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, received anything to be spent in charity he sent it to them and did not retain anything from it for himself (because charity was forbidden to him). When he received a gift he sent for them and shared it with them.

On this occasion I resented his sending for them. I asked myself: 'How can this amount of milk suffice so many, I deserve it more than anyone else, so that I might regain some energy. When they come he will tell me to give it to them. I do not expect that there would be any left for me.' I could not do anything else except to obey Allah and His Messenger, praise and peace be upon him, so I went to them and invited them to come.

When they came they were given permission to enter and sat down, the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, called me and I responded: 'Obedient to you, O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him.' He told me: 'Take the milk and give it to them.' So I took the cup and gave it to the first man who drank until he had his fill and then he returned it to me. I did the same for the others and they all had their fill. Then the cup reached the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, who took the cup in his hand, looked at me, smiled and said: 'Aba Hirr.' I replied: 'Obedient to you, O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him.' He said: 'Now you and I are left.' I replied: 'That is so, O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him.' He told me: 'Sit down and drink.' I drank, and he kept telling me to drink more until I said: 'By Him who has sent you with the truth. I have no more room for it.' So he said: 'Then give it to me.' So I gave him the cup and he praised Allah, and in the Name of Allah drank what was left of the milk."

Bukhari with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related this hadith.