ground and would tie stones to it out of hunger. Once, I sat down on the pathway where people would go out. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم passed by me and smiled as he saw me, and understood my state after looking at my face. He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘O Abu Hurayrah!’ So, I replied, ‘Labbayk, O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.’ He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘Come with me.’ Thus, I followed him and when the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم entered his blessed home, I sought permission and entered too. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم saw some milk in a bowl and asked, ‘Where has this milk come from?’ The household members replied, ‘So-and-so Sahabi or Sahabiyyah has sent it as a gift for you.’ He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘Abu Hurayrah!’ I replied, ‘Labbayk.’ He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘Go and call the People of Suffah.’

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ states: The People of Suffah رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُم are the guests of Islam; they neither have houses nor any inclination towards family and wealth nor do they rely on anyone for support. When the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would receive any Sadaqah, he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would send it to them and would not take anything from it himself, and when he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would receive a gift, he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would send it to them; utilising it himself and sharing it with them too.

This passed heavily upon my heart and I thought to myself: This will not suffice the People of Suffah, I was more deserving of drinking a few sips from it to gain some strength. When the People of Suffah رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُم come, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم will tell me to present the milk to them. In this case, it is very unlikely that I will receive even a few sips of the milk. However, I had no choice but to obey Allah Almighty and His Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, so I went to the People of Suffah and called them. They came and sought permission from the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, so he