Miracles of Food
The miracle of the increase in the amount of food on account of his blessings and supplication
Incident 1
Sayyidina Jabir ibn Abdullah tells us of the time a man came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asking for some food. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave him half a measurement (wazk) of barley and the man, his wife and guests ate from it continuously until the man decided to weigh it. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told him that if he had not weighed it, he would have continued to eat from it and it would have remained with him.
Lessons Learnt
1. The companion weighted it to check the reason that it always remains the same.
2. This is the blessings the companion received in the food, it never finishes.
Incident 2
On another occasion Sayyidina Anas came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم with a few loaves of barley bread under his arm. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked for the bread to be broken up then supplicated with what Allah (The Exalted) willed him to say over them, and the bread became sufficient to feed seventy or eighty of his Companions.
Lesson Learnt
1. SubhanAllah! One loaf of bread enough for 70 people! This is the blessings from the supplication of the Prophet .صلى الله عليه وسلم
1 Muslim. Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 15. P161 2 Bukhari. Muslim by Sayyidina Abu Talha. Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 15. P161
Incident 3
The Companions, numbering approximately one thousand, were digging of the defence trench around Madinah were very hungry. Sayyidina Jabir tells us how the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم miraculously fed them all from a small measurement of barley, and a lamb. As the dough was being prepared for bread, the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم blew some of his salvia onto the dough and pot, and it was blessed. Sayyidina Jabir said, “I swear by Allah (The Exalted), all ate and after they left the pot was as full as it had been at the beginning.”
Lessons Learnt
1. Every part of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم is blessed.
2. A lamb and some bread were enough for one thousand men.
3. The companions were very hungry digging a big trench around the blessed city of Madinah.
4. They were all working hard in the heat.
5. This increased the faith of the companions in the Prophet .صلى الله عليه وسلم 3 Bukhari. Sayyidina Saeed ibn Mina and Sayyidina Ayman trandmitted from Sayyidina Jabir. Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 15. P161
Incident 4
A similar miracle occurred and Sayyidina Thabit tells us how an Ansari man and his wife brought a handful of food to the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم who spread it in a container then supplicated with what Allah (The Exalted) willed him to say. Every member of the household and building ate until they were satisfied, as did their guests. After all had taken their fill, the same amount of food remained in the container.
Incident 5
Sayyidina Abu Ayyub tells us of the time when he had prepared enough food for the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم and Sayyidina Abu Bakr. When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم arrived, he told him to go and invite thirty Ansari nobles. This he did, and they came, ate and left. Then the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told him to invite sixty more, and the same thing happened. Thereafter Sayyidina Abu Ayyub was told to invite seventy more, and once again they all ate until they were replete and still some food remained. All who ate embraced Islam and gave their allegiance to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. Sayyidina Abu Ayyub tells us that all told a hundred and eighty men ate from the food.
Lessons Learnt
1. Sayyidina Abu Ayyub Ansari6 only prepared food enough for a couple. However, the food was enough for many.
2. Sayyidina Abu Ayyub Ansari did not question the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم but just obeyed.
3. Over 180 men ate, SubhanAllah! No one goes empty handed from the court of the Prophet .صلى الله عليه وسلم
4 Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 15. P161-2. 5 At-Tabarani. Al-Bayhaqqi. Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 15. P162 6 Buried in Istanbul, Turkey. 4
Incident 6
Another report has reached us via Sayyidina Samura ibn Jundub son that tells of a bowl containing some meat that was brought to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and how people kept coming in succession from morning to night and all ate from it. As soon as one group of people got up after taking their fill, another group sat down and ate, and so it continued.
Incident 7
Sayyidina Abdur Rahman son of Sayyidina Abu Bakr tells of the time when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and a hundred and thirty men were together and there was only a small measure of flour that was made into dough, and that there was a sheep that was prepared then its meat roasted. All took a piece of it, then, two plates were made from it and they all ate together, when they had satisfied their need two plates remained and Sayyidina Abdur Rahman took them back with him.
Lessons Learnt
1. Over 130 men ate from a small amount of dough and meat of sheep.
2. Even after the 130 men ate from the two plates that were prepared, the same amount of food was left over as before they started.
Incident 8
Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah together with several other Companions spoke of the time when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and his followers went on an expedition and grew very hungry. Only a little of their provisions remained and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked for them to be brought to him, whereupon each brought a handful or a little bit more of food. The most anyone brought was two scoops of the hand of dates. All the provisions were placed on a mat, and as Sayyidina Salama estimated, the quantity was comparable to that of the weight of a goat. Then the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told his followers to bring their containers and each container was filled to capacity, and even after all had taken, the same amount of food remained as at the beginning, and Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah
7 At-Tabarani. Al-Bayhaqqi. Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 15. P162 8 Bukhari. Muslim. Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 15. P161 5
said that if all the peoples of the world had come to him, it would have sufficed them.
Lessons Learnt
1. Although only a little bit of food was left, they all obeyed the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and presented what they had.
2. Once the food was blessed by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم they all filled their containers and ate from it.
3. All the companions ate, and the food remained as at the beginning.
4. Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah made such a powerful statement that even if the entire world came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم it would be sufficient. SubhanAllah!
Incident 9
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah to invite all the people of the Suffa (the poor people who lived in an extension of the Mosque in Madinah) on his behalf. When all were gathered a plate was set before them and they each ate whatever they wished and then left. After all, had eaten the plate of food remained as it had been when presented to him, the only difference being that there were finger marks on it.10
Lessons learnt
1. We learn that it is the Sunnah to feed the poor. Allah is pleased and His Beloved Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم is pleased.
2. Even after they had all eaten the food remained as it was before they ate. SubhanAllah!
9 Ibn Sa’ad. Al-Bayhaqi. Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 15. P162 10 Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 15. P162 6
Incident 10
When the tribe of Sayyidina Abdul Muttalib met together, there being forty in number, Sayyidina Ali Sayyidina Abu Talib’s son tells us the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم placed a small measure of food before them from which they all ate until they were full. The food that remained was equal to that at the beginning of the meal. Then, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked for a cup and they all drank from it until their thirst was quenched, and the same amount remained in the cup just as if none had drunk from it.
Lessons Learnt
1. There is no end to the bounties and gifts from Allah to His Beloved Prophet .صلى الله عليه وسلم
2. The amount of food and water was only minimal; however, it was sufficient for forty men.
3. These incidents were building the love of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم into the companions.
Incident 11
A house was built for Sayyida Zainab and Sayyidina Anas tells us that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked him to invite certain people to the house. The house was full and a container with some prepared dates was brought to him into which he dipped three fingers. The invitees began to eat and then leave and there remained in the container the same amount as at the beginning. Seventy-one or seventy-two people accepted the invitation.
Lessons Learnt
1. We find that it is Sunnah to invite people when you begin to live in a new house.
2. Small amount of prepared dates was bought, however, when the beloved Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم dipped his blessed fingers it was enough for over seventy people. SubhanAllah!
3. The provider is Allah and the distributor of the gifts of Allah is the beloved Prophet
.صلى الله عليه وسلم 11 Ibn Hanbal. Al-Bayhaqi. Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 15. P163 12 Bukhari. Muslim. Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 15. P163 7
Incident 12
Sayyidina Ali tells of the occasion when his wife, Sayyida Fatima, may Allah be pleased with them, prepared a pot of food for their supper then asked him to go and request the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to join them. When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم arrived, he asked her to make a plate for each of his wives, and then one for himself and Sayyidina Ali, and one for herself. When Sayyida Fatima lifted the pot, it overflowed, and she said, “We ate what Allah (The Exalted) willed from it.”
Lessons Learnt
1. This is the household and family of the beloved Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. Sayyida Fatima is the beloved daughter of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and Sayyidina Ali is the husband of Sayyida Fatima. They are the parents of Imam Hasan and Imam Hussain.
2. It is Sunnah to send food to close family members as it increases love amongst each other.
3. Sayyida Fatima made enough food for Sayyidina Ali, herself and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. However, it was blessed to be enough for more than three.
Incident 13
Four hundred riders from a branch of the tribe of Hanifa, called Ahmas, arrived and Sayyidina Umar ibn Al Khattab tells us that he informed the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that only a few scoops of food remained. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told him to go, so he went to provide for them from it. There had been just a small amount of dates sufficient for a small kneeling camel, but after all had taken their fill the same amount remained.
Lessons Learnt
1. It is Sunnah to feed guest.
2. There was little food but due to the blessings of the beloved Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم it was sufficient for four hundred.
13 Ibn Sa’ad. Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 15. P163 14 Transmitted by Sayyidina Dukayn al-Ahmasi and Sayyidina Jabir ibn Abdullah. Sayyidina An-Numan ibn Muqarrin. Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 15. P163 8
3. The same amount of food remained after everyone ate.
4. No one goes empty handed from the blessed court of the Prophet .صلى الله عليه وسلم
Incident 14
Sayyidina Abdullah, Sayyidina Jabir’s father passed away in debt. Sayyidina Jabir offered his capital to his father’s creditors who were Jews, but they refused the offer and there were insufficient dates in the harvest to repay two years of debts. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told Sayyidina Jabir to divide the creditors into groups, beginning with the basic debts and to come to him once he had done so. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم went amongst the creditors and called, and Sayydina Jabir paid his father’s debts in full. After all, had been paid what remained was the usual crop of dates harvested each year. It has also been reported that the same amount that had been used to repay remained. The creditors were astounded!
Bukhari. Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 15. P163 9
Lessons Learnt
1. Sayyidina Jabir offered to pay his father’s debt but it was not sufficient.
2. This case is now being dealt with by the best of creation .صلى الله عليه وسلم
3. When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave all the debtors what was owed, the same amount remained that was used to repay the debtors.
4. Sayyidina Jabir’s father’s debt was not only paid but Sayyidina Jabir ended up with more then what he already had.
5. Creditors were Jews.
Incident 15
Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah tells of the time when the army of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم were suffering from hunger, so he went to him, and asked if there was anything to eat. Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah told him that there were some dates whereupon, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked for them to be brought to him. When they were brought he put his hand in the bag and brought out a handful of dates and supplicated for blessings and told him to call ten people to come and eat, and all ate until they were satisfied. Then a further ten came and so it continued until the entire army had taken their fill. Now that they had been satisfied, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told him to take what he brought and put his hand in the bag, but not to turn it upside down. Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah ate continuously from the bag throughout the lifetimes of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم Sayyidina Abu Bakr and Sayyidin Umar right up until the time Sayyidina Uthman was martyred when the blessing ceased.
Lessons Learnt
1. After the dates were blessed, the companions came in ten by ten till the entire army ate from the small amount of dates.
2. Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah obeyed the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and continued to benefit from its blessing for years to come till Sayyidina Uthman was martyred.
3. Sayyidina Abu Bakr was Khalifah for 2 years, Sayyidina Umar was Khalifah for 11 years and Sayyidina Uthman was Khalifah for 12 years. Not forgetting the time, the dates were blessed till the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم departure from this world. This makes it over 25 years!
16 Al-Bayhaqi. Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 15. P164 10
Incident 16
Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah also tells us of the time when he was in the company of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and felt very hungry whereupon the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked him to accompany him. A cup of milk had been given to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم so he asked the people of the Suffa to come. Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah, who was weak with hunger asked, “Is the milk for them? I am in greater need of it to regain my strength.” Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah did as he was asked and called the people to come and drink. Each of the people of the Suffa drank from the milk until they were satisfied, then the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم took the cup and said, “You and I remain, sit and drink.” Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah started to drink and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم kept telling him to drink more until he exclaimed, ‘No, by the One who sent you with the truth, there is no room for anymore, whereupon the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم took the cup, praised Allah (The Exalted) and said, “In the Name of Allah”, and drank.
Lessons Learnt
1. Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah was hungry and wanted to drink first to regains strength, however, he obeyed the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and gave the companions of Suffah. This teaches us that is Sunnah for the host to feed the guest first.
2. So, from a cup of milk many drank to their satisfaction.
3. One important point to note here is that was Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah really hungry? What was he hungry for? He is a companion; the companions had much love for the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. He wanted the attention and increase in love from the Prophet .صلى الله عليه وسلم
17 Bukhari. Tirmidhi. Ibn Majah from Sayyidina Abu Qatada. Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 15. P164 11
Incident 17
Sayyidina Khalid, Abdul Uzza’s son had a large family, and one sheep was never sufficient to feed all of them. One day the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم sacrificed a sheep, ate from it and put the rest into Sayyidina Khalid’s pot and supplicated for it to be blessed for him so that it might be distributed amongst his family. All Sayyidina Khalid’s family ate from it and when they had finished there was some left over.
Lessons Learnt
1. How fortunate was that sheep to be sacrificed by the Prophet .صلى الله عليه
وسلم 2. How fortunate was Sayyidina Khalid to receive food and blessed from the Prophet .صلى الله عليه وسلم
Incident 18
Sayyidina Al Ajurri recalled the marriage between Sayyida Fatima, daughter of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and Sayyidina Ali, may Allah be pleased with them, and tells us that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم ordered Sayyidina Bilal to bring a pot of four or five measures and sacrifice a sheep for the wedding feast. Sayyidina Bilal brought the sheep and sacrificed it, and the guests came in several groups and all ate, yet there still remained some left over. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, blessed what remained and asked for it to be taken to his wives with the invitation to eat from it and have their supper.
Lessons Learnt
1. This marriage was ordered by Allah.
2. Sayyidina Ali was born in the Ka’ba, meaning he was from the house of Allah and Sayyidah Fatima was from the house of the Prophet .صلى الله عليه وسلم
3. Again, many groups ate from the blessing from the wedding feast.
18 Ad-Dulabi mentioned the report. Al-Bayhaqi. Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 15. P164 19 Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 15. P164 12
Incident 19
In celebration of the marriage of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم Sayyidina Anas’s mother, Umm Sulaym prepared food which Sayyidina Anas put in a pot and took to him. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم asked him to put it down and go and invite certain people and whosoever he met. Sayyidina Anas did as he was asked, no one was left out, as for those he met there were approximately three hundred invitees, who filled the Suffa and the room to capacity. As they arrived, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told them to sit in circles of ten, then he placed his hand on the food and supplicated with whatever Allah (The Exalted) willed him to say. All ate until they could eat no more, and after they had finished the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked Sayyidina Anas to take it away, and he comment, “I did not know whether there was more when I first put it down or when I picked it up.”
Lessons Learnt
1. It is Sunnah to send food to the pious.
2. It is Sunnah to invite people for food.
3. There is no limit when it comes to the Prophet .
صلى الله عليه وسلم 4. How fortunate were those who were invited to eat with the Prophet .صلى الله عليه وسلم
5. Even after feeding over three hundred people Sayyidina Anas did not know wheather there was more before or after.
20 Bukhari. Muslim. Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 15. P164-5.