It is Possible that they may have eaten a full stomach of dates, but not of bread, where they did not eat it for two consecutive days. A question may arise, that it is evident from the ahadith that Sayidinah Rasulullah Sallalahu 'Alayhi Wasallam gave his wives their expenses for a year.

Whenever bread made of barley was prepared, the quantity was so little that there were none left over. There was not enough to fill the stomach. Also Sayyidina Rasulullah Saliallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam used to have many guests and the As-haabus Suffah were permanent guests of Sayyidina Rasuluilah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam.

Although there were among the Sahaabah Radiyallahu 'Anhum, a few who were wealthy, Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallailahu 'Alayhi Wasallam did not let anyone know, nor did his family members let anyone know, of their state.

He replied: "No, it was not". The questioner then asked: "How was bread from barley prepared?" (because it has more particles in it). Sahl Radiyallahu Anhu replied: "We used to blow into the flour and the big particles flew out. The rest was made into dough".

Sayyidina Yunus Radiyallahu 'Anhu and Sayyidina Qataadah Radiyallahu 'Anhu who are mentioned in the translation are two narrators in the chain of this hadith. 'Allaamah Munaawi and Mulla 'Ali Qaari say that it has always been the custom of proud people to eat on a table. It has been stated in the 'Kaukabe Durri' that in our times because it is also an imitation of the Christians, therefore it is rnakruh tahreermi.

This is the same hadith that was mentioned in the beginning of the chapter. The only difference is, there the whole household was mentioned, here only Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam himself is mentioned. The aim is the same. Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam preferred a simple life for himself and his family. There was not so much, that all could fill their stomachs. Even if there was something available it was given to the poor.

This hadith is also mentioned in hadith number five of this chapter. It is clear from the narrations that Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam preferred a simple life. Whenever Allah Ta'aala sent an angel to ask Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallailahu 'Alayhi Wasallam if he preferred to live a simple life with poverty and hunger or a life with wealth and pomp, he always replied that he preferred the first (simple life). Many ahaadith are mentioned on this subject. The 'ulama give two explanations for this. The first is that because Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam preferred a simple way of life, only that much was made available as has been previously mentioned. Or that although it was available, in humbleness he did not consume it but distributed it.