Hadhrat Nu'maan (r.a.) narrates that when the Muslims received large amounts of wealth (as booty during the Khilaafah of Hadhrat Umar (r.a.)) Hadhrat Umar said to the people, "I have seen Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) restless the entire day because he could not even find poor quality dates to fill his stomach."
Muslim as reported in Targheeb wat Tarheeb (Vo1.5 Pg. 154). The Hadith is also narrated by Ahmad, Tayaalisi, Ibn Sa'd, Ibn Majah, Abu Awaanah and others as quoted in Kanzul Ummaal (Vo1.4 Pg.40).
Ibn Jareer as quoted in KanzuI Umrnaal(Vol.4 Pg.38).
Hadhrat Masrooq (r.a.) narrates that he once visited Hadhrat Aa'isha (r.a) and she invited him to share a meal. She then said to him, "Whenever I eat to my fill I cannot fight the urge to cry." "Why is that?" asked Hadhrat Masrooq. Hadhrat Aa'isha (r.a) replied, "Because I think of the condition in which Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) left this world. By Allaah! There was never a day when Rasulullaah (s.a.w) twice ate his fill with bread or meat." Tirmidhi as quoted in Targheeb wat ~arheeb (Vol.5 pg.148).
Hadhrat Hasan (r.a.) says, "Rasulullaah used to assist people personally and even patch his clothing with pieces of leather. Until his demise, he could never eat both lunch and dinner for three consecutive days." Ibn Abi Dunya.
Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Abbaas (r.a.) narrates that many consecutive nights would pass by Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) when his family would be hungry without anything to eat for dinner. The bread they ate most often was made from barley. Tirrnidhi
Hadhrat Abu Hurayra (r.a.) narrates that when some hot food was brought to Rasulullaah (s.a.w.), he ate it and then said, "All praise be to Allaah. I have not eaten hot food for such a long time."
(1) Ibn Majah and Bayhaqi as quoted in Targheeb wat Tarheeb (Vo1.5 Pg.149).
Hadhrat Sahl bin Sa'd (r.a.) says, "From the time Allaah instructed Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) to announce his Nabuwaat until he demise, Rasulullah (s.a.w.) did not even see fine white flour." When someone asked Hadrat Sahl (r.a.) whether there were sifts during the time of Rasulullaah (s.a.w.), he replied, "From the time Allaah instructed Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) to announce his Nabuwaat until his demise, Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) did not even see a sift." Someone asked, "Then how were you able to eat unsifted barley?" He replied, "After grinding the barley, we used to blow it and whatever could fly away, would fly. The rest we used to make dough."
Bukhari as quoted in Targheeb wat Tarheeb (Vo1.5 Pg.153).
A Sahabi by the name of Ibn Bujayr (r.a.) states that when Rasulullaah suffered severe hunger one day, he tied a stone to his stomach and said,
"Behold! Many are those who eat well and enjoy many bounties in this world, but will be hungry and naked on the Day of Qiyaamah.
Behold! Many are those who appear to be generous to themselves (by doing as they desire) but are actually humiliating themselves (because their desires lead them to Jahannam).
Behold! Many are those who appear to be humiliating themselves (by suppressing their desires to abide by Allaah's commands) but are actually being generous to themselves (because they are heading for Jannah)."
Ibn Abi Dunya as quoted in Targheeb wat Tarheeb (Vo1.3 Pg.422). Khateeb and Ibn Mandah have also reported this narration as quoted Isaaba (Vo1.2 Pg.486).
Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Shaqeeq narrates that he stayed in the company of Hadhrat Abu Hurayra (r.a.) for a year in Madinah. One day, they were near the room of Hadhrat Aa'isha (r.a.) when Hadhrat Abu Hurayra - said to him, "I saw the time when we had nothing to wear besides coarse cloths and days would pass when we would not have anything to eat that could keep our backs straight. Eventually, we had to tie stones to our stomachs and then wrap our clothes around so that we could keep our backs straight.
Ahmad as quoted in Targheeb wat Tarheeb (Vo1.5 Pg.177) with a reliable chain of narrators as confirmed by Haythami (Vol. 10 Pg.32 1).
Hadhrat Jaabir (r.a.) says, ''As we were digging the trench for the Battle of Khandaq a very hard large boulder got in our way. We went to Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) and said, 'This large boulder in the trench has come in the way. Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) said, I shall come down (to see). As Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) stood up, (we noticed that) he had a stone tied to his stomach and we had not as much as tasted any food for three days. 'The hadith continues in detail.
Bukhari as quoted in Al Bidaaya wan Nihaaya (Vol.4 Pg.97).
The Statement of Hadhrat Aa'isha (r.a) Concerning Overeating
Hadhrat Aa'isha (r.a.) once said, "The first calamity to befall this Ummah after the demise of its Nabi (s.a.w.) is overeating because when a nation fills their bellies too much, their bodies become obese, their hearts become weak and their' carnal passions get out of control."
Bukhari in Kitaabut Du'afaa and Ibn Abi Dunya as quoted Targheeb wat Tarheeb (Vo1.3 Pg.420).
(From Hayatus Sahabah by Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Khandhlawi)
