Are you not (living) in ease, with food and drink as much as you desire? I have seen your Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and he could not even find low-quality dates to fill his stomach
Authenticعَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: أَلَسْتُمْ فِي طَعَامٍ وَشَرَابٍ مَا شِئْتُمْ؟ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ نَبِيَّكُمْ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَمَا يَجِدُ مِنَ الدَّقَلِ مَا يَمْلَأُ بِهِ بَطْنَهُ.
An-Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Are you not (living) in ease, with food and drink as much as you desire? I have seen your Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and he could not even find low-quality dates to fill his stomach.
Explanation
An-Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reminded the people of the blessings they were enjoying for having continuous access to food and drink in whatever quantity they desired. Then he informed them of the condition of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), saying that he could not even find enough of the poor-quality dates to fill his stomach out of hunger.
Benefits
- Clarifying the Prophet's state of asceticism.
- Urging people to practice asceticism regarding worldly life, to live with a minimum amount of it, and to follow the example of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).
- Reminding people of the blessings they enjoy and urging them to show gratitude to Allah for them.
Source · Narrated by Muslim
From the Hadith Encyclopedia (hadeethenc.com).