The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو طَلْحَةَ لأُمِّ سُلَيْمٍ لَقَدْ سَمِعْتُ صَوْتَ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ضَعِيفًا أَعْرِفُ فِيهِ الْجُوعَ، فَهَلْ عِنْدَكِ مِنْ شَىْءٍ فَقَالَتْ نَعَمْ. فَأَخْرَجَتْ أَقْرَاصًا مِنْ شَعِيرٍ، ثُمَّ أَخَذَتْ خِمَارًا لَهَا، فَلَفَّتِ الْخُبْزَ بِبَعْضِهِ، ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَتْنِي إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَهَبْتُ فَوَجَدْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَمَعَهُ النَّاسُ، فَقُمْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَرْسَلَكَ أَبُو طَلْحَةَ ". فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِمَنْ مَعَهُ " قُومُوا ". فَانْطَلَقُوا، وَانْطَلَقْتُ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ حَتَّى جِئْتُ أَبَا طَلْحَةَ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ. فَقَالَ أَبُو طَلْحَةَ يَا أُمَّ سُلَيْمٍ قَدْ جَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلَيْسَ عِنْدَنَا مِنَ الطَّعَامِ مَا نُطْعِمُهُمْ. فَقَالَتِ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ. فَانْطَلَقَ أَبُو طَلْحَةَ حَتَّى لَقِيَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَقْبَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَبُو طَلْحَةَ حَتَّى دَخَلاَ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " هَلُمِّي يَا أُمَّ سُلَيْمٍ مَا عِنْدَكِ ". فَأَتَتْ بِذَلِكَ الْخُبْزِ ـ قَالَ ـ فَأَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِذَلِكَ الْخُبْزِ فَفُتَّ، وَعَصَرَتْ أُمُّ سُلَيْمٍ عُكَّةً لَهَا فَأَدَمَتْهُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ فِيهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَقُولَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ " ائْذَنْ لِعَشَرَةٍ ". فَأَذِنَ لَهُمْ فَأَكَلُوا حَتَّى شَبِعُوا، ثُمَّ خَرَجُوا، ثُمَّ قَالَ " ائْذَنْ لِعَشَرَةٍ ". فَأَذِنَ لَهُمْ، فَأَكَلَ الْقَوْمُ كُلُّهُمْ وَشَبِعُوا، وَالْقَوْمُ سَبْعُونَ أَوْ ثَمَانُونَ رَجُلاً.
Abu Talha said to Um Sulaim, "I heard the voice of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) rather weak, and I knew that it
was because of hunger. Have you anything (to present to the Prophet)?" She said, "Yes." Then she
took out a few loaves of barley bread and took a veil of hers and wrapped the bread with a part of it
and sent me to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). I went and found Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sitting in the mosque with some
people. I stood up before him. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to me, "Has Abu Talha sent you?" I said, ' Yes.
Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to those who were with him. "Get up and proceed." I went ahead of them
(as their forerunner) and came to Abu Talha and informed him about it. Abu Talha said, "O Um
Sulaim! Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) has come and we have no food to feed them." Um Sulaim said, "Allah and
His Apostle know best." So Abu Talha went out (to receive them) till he met Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came in company with Abu Talha and they entered the house. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "O
Um Sulaim! Bring whatever you have." So she brought that (barley) bread and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)
ordered that bread to be broken into small pieces, and then Um Sulaim poured over it some butter
from a leather butter container, and then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said what Allah wanted him to say, (i.e.
blessing the food). Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) then said, "Admit ten men." Abu Talha admitted them and they ate
to their fill and went out. He again said, "Admit ten men." He admitted them, and in this way all the
people ate to their fill, and they were seventy or eighty men."
Narrated by Narrated Anas bin Malik:
Context
This hadith narrates an incident involving Abu Talha and his wife Um Sulaim, who demonstrated exceptional hospitality towards the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his companions during a time of hunger. Despite their own lack of food, Um Sulaim prepared barley bread to serve the Prophet (ﷺ) and the group of seventy or eighty men who accompanied him. The miraculous nature of the event was highlighted by the fact that the small amount of food was sufficient to satisfy all the guests, showcasing the blessings that come with generosity and hospitality.
Modern Application
In today's context, this hadith encourages us to be generous and hospitable, especially when hosting guests. Even when resources are limited, the spirit of sharing and kindness can create memorable experiences and strengthen community bonds. It serves as a reminder that hospitality is not just about the quantity of food but the warmth and intention behind it.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Hospitality in Islam and Blessings in Food because it illustrates the importance of generosity in hosting guests and the miraculous blessings that can arise from such acts of kindness.
And he who does not find [a slave] - then a fast for two months consecutively before they touch one another; and he who is unable - then the feeding of sixty poor persons. That is for you to believe [completely] in Allah and His Messenger; and those are the limits [set by] Allah. And for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.
Said Jesus, the son of Mary, "O Allah, our Lord, send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven to be for us a festival for the first of us and the last of us and a sign from You. And provide for us, and You are the best of providers."
That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah on known days over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. So eat of them and feed the miserable and poor.
He said, "You will not receive food that is provided to you except that I will inform you of its interpretation before it comes to you. That is from what my Lord has taught me. Indeed, I have left the religion of a people who do not believe in Allah, and they, in the Hereafter, are disbelievers.