Sunan Ibn Majah #3018
Chapters on Food
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ الْمِصْرِيُّ أَبُو الْحَارِثِ الْمُرَادِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي يَحْيَى، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ كُنَّا زَمَانَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ وَقَلِيلٌ مَا نَجِدُ الطَّعَامَ فَإِذَا نَحْنُ وَجَدْنَاهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَنَا مَنَادِيلُ إِلاَّ أَكُفَّنَا وَسَوَاعِدَنَا وَأَقْدَامَنَا ثُمَّ نُصَلِّي وَلاَ نَتَوَضَّأْ . قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ غَرِيبٌ لَيْسَ إِلاَّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَلَمَةَ .
“During the time of
the
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) we often did not find anything to eat,
and
if we did, we did not have handkerchiefs, except our hands, arms
and
feet. Then we would pray without performing ablution.”
Narrated by It was
narrated that Jabir bin ‘Abdullah said:
Context
This hadith reflects on the times when food was scarce during the Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ era. Jabir bin 'Abdullah narrates that they often had to use their hands and arms for cleanliness before praying, illustrating the simplicity and resourcefulness of the early Muslims in their daily lives.
Modern Application
In contemporary society, this teaches us to appreciate the blessings of food and cleanliness, encouraging us to be resourceful and grateful, especially in times of scarcity or hardship.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Eating Etiquette and Hospitality in Islam because it highlights the importance of cleanliness and resourcefulness in the context of sharing meals.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ المَائـِدَةِ
Al-Maaida (The Table)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَٱغْسِلُوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْمَرَافِقِ وَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْكَعْبَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًۭا فَٱطَّهَّرُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌۭ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءًۭ فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًۭا طَيِّبًۭا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍۢ وَلَٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful.
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنتُمْ سُكَٰرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَعْلَمُوا۟ مَا تَقُولُونَ وَلَا جُنُبًا إِلَّا عَابِرِى سَبِيلٍ حَتَّىٰ تَغْتَسِلُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌۭ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءًۭ فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًۭا طَيِّبًۭا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا
O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of janabah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving.
سُورَةُ الفُرۡقَانِ
Al-Furqaan (The Criterion)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّآ إِنَّهُمْ لَيَأْكُلُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ وَيَمْشُونَ فِى ٱلْأَسْوَاقِ ۗ وَجَعَلْنَا بَعْضَكُمْ لِبَعْضٍۢ فِتْنَةً أَتَصْبِرُونَ ۗ وَكَانَ رَبُّكَ بَصِيرًۭا
And We did not send before you, [O Muhammad], any of the messengers except that they ate food and walked in the markets. And We have made some of you [people] as trial for others - will you have patience? And ever is your Lord, Seeing.
سُورَةُ المُدَّثِّرِ
Al-Muddaththir (The Cloaked One)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
قَالُوا۟ لَمْ نَكُ مِنَ ٱلْمُصَلِّينَ
They will say, "We were not of those who prayed,
سُورَةُ الإِنسَانِ
Al-Insaan (Man)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ ٱللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَآءًۭ وَلَا شُكُورًا
[Saying], "We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude.
Common Words
144 total95 unique36 repeated
أو6x
من5x
إلى3x
وأيديكم3x
وإن3x
كنتم3x
منكم3x
ٱلله3x
يأيها2x
ٱلذين2x
ءامنوا2x
ٱلصلوة2x
جنبا2x
مرضى2x
على2x
سفر2x
جاء2x
أحد2x
ٱلغائط2x
لمستم2x
Related Hadiths
About Sunan Ibn Majah
This hadith is #3018 from Sunan Ibn Majah, in the Book of Chapters on Food. It is graded Sahih and narrated by It was narrated that Jabir bin ‘Abdullah said:.