any house. The Messenger of Allahصَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  then said to the Companions رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُم: “Whoever hosts this guest, Allah Almighty will have mercy upon him.”

Sayyiduna Abu Talha Ansari رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ stood up and took the guest to his house. When he reached home, he asked his wife: “Is there any food in the house?” She replied: “There is only a little food kept for the children.” Sayyiduna Abu Talha رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ said: “Put the children to sleep somehow, and when the guest sits down to eat, get up on the pretext of fixing the lamp and extinguish it, so that the guest may eat comfortably.”

He did this so that the guest would not realize that the household was not eating with him; otherwise, the guest would insist, and since the food was little, the guest might remain hungry. In this way, Sayyiduna Abu Talha رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ fed the guest, while he and his family spent the night hungry.

The next morning, when they presented themselves in the prophetic court, the Beloved of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, upon seeing Sayyiduna Abu Talha رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, said: “Last night, an amazing event occurred in the house of such-and-such people. Allah Almighty smiled upon them (meaning: He became extremely pleased with them).”

Regarding this very event, the following verse of Surah al-Hashr was revealed: ^[1]

وَ یُؤْثِرُوْنَ عَلٰۤى اَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ لَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ ﳴ وَ مَنْ یُّوْقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهٖ فَاُولٰٓىٕكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُوْنَۚ(۹)

and they give preference over themselves even if they themselves are in need. And whosoever was saved from the greed of his soul, then it is they who are successful.^[2]