Abu Hurayrah (RA) one of the companions of Allaah's Messenger (peace and blessing be upon him) narrated his story and said: • "By Allaah except Whom none has the right to be worshipped, sometimes I used to sleep on the ground on my abdomen because of hunger, and sometimes I used to bind a stone over my belly because of hunger. One day I sat by the way from where the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) used to come out. When Abu Bakr (RA) passed by, I asked him about a verse from Allaah's Book and I asked him only that he might satisfy my hunger, but he passed by and did not do so.
Then Umar (RA) passed by me and I asked him about a verse from Allaah's Book, and I asked him only that he might satisfy my hunger, but he passed by without doing so. (Instead) he entered his house and interpreted it to me. (Then I went out and) after walking for a short distance, I fell on my face because of fatigue and severe hunger. Finally Abu-I-Qaasim (that is: the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) passed by me and he smiled when he saw me, for he knew what was in my heart and on my face. Then he held me by the hand, and made me get up. He said, "O Abu Hirr (which is a good and shortened way of calling Abu Hurayrah)!" I replied, "Labbaik (At your service), O Allaah's Messenger!" He said to me, "Follow me. " He left and I followed him.
Then he entered the house and I asked permission to enter and was admitted. He found milk in a bowl and said, "From where is this milk?" They said, "It has been presented to you by such-and-\ such man (orbysuch and such woman)." He said, "O Abu HirrF' I said, "Labbaik, O Allaah's Messenger!" He said, "Go and call the people of Suffa to me.
These people of Suffa were the guests of Islaam who had no families, nor money, no anybody to depend upon, and whenever an object of charity was brought to the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him), he would send it to them and would not take anything from it, and whenever any present them and take some of it for himself was given to him, he used to send some for them and take some of it for himself.
The order of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) upset me, and I said to myself, "How will this little milk be enough for the people of As-Suffa?" I thought I was more entitled to drink from that milk in order to strengthen myself, but behold; the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) came to order me to give that milk to them. I wondered what will remain of that milk for me, but anyway, I could not but obey Allaah and His Messenger so I went to the people of As-Suffa and called them, and they came and asked the Prophet's permission to enter. They were admitted and took their seats in the house. The Prophet ( peace and blessing be upon him) said, "O Abu-HirrF' I said, Labbaik, O Allaah's Messenger!" He said, "Take it and give it to them. " So I took the bowl (of milk) and started giving it to one man who would drink his fill and return it to me, whereupon I would give it to another man who, in his turn, would drink his fill and return it to me, and I would then offer it to another man who would drink his fill and return it to me
Finally, after the whole group had drunk their fill, I reached the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) who took the bowl and put it on his hand, looked at me and smiled and said. "0 Abu Hirr!" I replied, "Labbaik, 0 Allaah's Messenger!" He said, "There remain you and I." I said, 'You have said the truth, O Allaah's Messenger!" He said, "Sit down and drink." I sat down and drank. He said, "Drink," and I drank. H e said, "Drink more, O Abu Hirr!" So I drank again, whereupon he again said, "Drink more." .
So I drank more till my belly became full and looked like a bowl. He kept on telling me repeatedly to drink, till I said, "No. By Allaah Who sent you with the truth, I have no space for it (in my stomach)." He said, "Hand it over to me." When I gave him the bowl, he praised Allaah and pronounced Allaah's Name on it and drank the remaining milk.
Afterwards I met 'Umar (RA) and mentioned to him what had happened to me, and said to-him, "Somebody, who had more right than you, O 'Umar, took over the case. By Allah, I asked you to recite a verse to me while I knew it better than you." On that Umar said to me, "By Allaah, if I admitted and entertained you, it would have been dearer to me than having nicer.