Ahadith

Usamah ibn Zaid relates that the Holy Prophet said: I stood at the gate of Paradise and saw that most of those who entered it were the poor, while the rich were held back from it. But those destined for the Fire were commanded to be driven into it (Bokhari and Muslim). (At-Takathur 10, Bani Isra'il 20)

Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet said: The truest thing a poet said is the saying of Labid: Everything beside Allah is vain (Bokhari and Muslim). (At-Takathur 10, Bani Isra'il 20)

Ayesha relates: The family of the Holy Prophet never ate their fill of barley bread two days running till he died (Bokhari and Muslim). Another" version is: Ever since he came to Medina, the family of the Holy Prophet never ate their fill of wheaten bread three nights running till he died. (At-Takathur 10, Bani Isra'il 20)

Urwah relates of Ayesha that she used to say: Nephew, we would witness three crescents in two months without a fire being lit in the homes of the Holy Prophet. I asked: Aunt, how did you manage? She said: On dates and water, except that the Holy Prophet had some Ansars as neighbours who had she-camels yielding milk. They would send some of their milk to the Holy Prophet which we drank (Bokhari and Muslim). (At-Takathur 10, Bani Isra'il 20)

Abu Sa‘id Magburi relates of Abu Hurairah that he passed some people who had a roast lamb before them. They invited him to join them, but he refused, saying: The Holy Prophet passed out of the world without having eaten his fill of barley bread (Bokhari). (At-Takathur 10, Bani Isra'il 20)

Anas relates that the Holy Prophet never ate off a table-cloth, nor did he ever eat bread made of fine flour throughout his life (Bokhari). One version adds: He never even saw a whole roast lamb. (At-Takathur 10, Bani Isra'il 20)

Nu‘man ibn Bashir relates: I have seen your Prophet when he did not have enough of the poorest quality dates to eat his fill (Muslim). (At-Takathur 10, Bani Isra'il 20)

Sahl ibn Sa‘ad relates that the Holy Prophet never even saw bread made out of fine flour throughout his life. He was asked: Did you not have sieves in the time of the Holy Prophet? He said: The Holy Prophet never saw a sieve. He was asked: How did you manage to eat barley bread made of unsieved flour? He said: We ground it and then blew over it; the husk was thus blown off and that which remained we kneaded into dough (Bokhari). (At-Takathur 10, Bani Isra'il 20)

Abu Hurairah relates: The Holy Prophet came out one day and found Abu Bakr and Umar. He asked them: What has brought you out of your houses at this time? They said: Hunger, O Messenger of Allah. He affirmed: By Him in Whose hands is my life, the same cause has brought me out that has brought both of you out; so come along. They stood up and all three went to the house of one of the Ansar, but he was not at home. When his wife saw the Holy Prophet she said: Welcome and blessings. He asked her: Where is So and So? She said: He has gone to fetch fresh sweet water for us. When the Ansari came and saw the Holy Prophet and his two companions, he said: Praise be to Allah. There is no one who has more honoured guests today than I have. He then went out and brought a branch of a date tree bearing ripe and semi-ripe dates and invited them to eat. He then took up a knife and the Holy Prophet said to him: Do not slaughter a goat that is yielding milk. So he slaughtered for them and they ate and drank. When they had had their fill and were refreshed, the Holy Prophet said to his two companions: By Him in Whose hands is my life you will be called to account for these bounties on the Day of Judgment. Hunger drove you out of your homes and you did not return till you had enjoyed these bounties (Muslim).

Khalid ibn Umar Adavi relates: We were addressed by Utbah ibn Ghazwan, Governor of Basrah. After praising Allah and glorifying Him, he said: The world is announcing its departure and is running swiftly, turning" away its face. All that is left of it is like the few drops left at the bottom of a vessel after the water in it has been drunk. That is what the worldly ones are drinking. You will surely be transferred from it to a home which will not be. subject to decline. Then make sure that you proceed thither with the best you have. We have been told that a stone dropped from the edge of hell will continue to fall for seventy years without reaching bottom. Yet it will be filled. Then do you wonder at it? We have also been told that the distance between the two leaves of the gate of Paradise is equal to a journey extending over forty years, yet a day will come when it will be choked with people. I recall being one of seven people with the Holy Prophet when our only food was leaves of trees whereby the sides of our mouths had been cut open. I had procured a sheet which I cut in two and shared it with Sa‘ad ibn Malik. Each of us converted our piece into a loin-cloth. Today every one of us is governor of a city. I seek the protection of Allah against counting myself great and being small in the sight of Allah (Muslim).