This hadith has already been discussed in hadith number two in the chapter of the curry of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam.

The reason of not lighting fires is, because there was nothing to cook. The 'ulama have written that water is mentioned because there were not enough dates, and without water the stomach could not be filled. First a few dates were eaten, thereafter an amount of water was drunk to fill the stomach. In another hadith it is stated 'Two full months would pass and the hilaal for the third month would be observed, and no circumstances warranted that a fire be lit in the houses of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam for cooking'. In a hadith it is stated: 'One month passed, then another month passed, there was no such occasion where a fire was lit in any of the houses of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam'. 'Urwah Radiyallahu 'Anhu asked his aunt Sayyiditina 'Aayeshah Radiyallahu 'Anha, 'O Aunt, on what did you sustain yourself? She replied: 'Dates and water. There were a few neighbours of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam from among the Ansaar who owned some animals that gave milk. If one of them sent some milk as a present, then we too would partake of it'. In a hadith it is stated: 'Once for one and half months continuously, no fire was lit in the house of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam for illumination or other purposes'. Fire for illumination means that a lamp or candle did not burn. Jam'ul Wasaa'il.

In a hadith it is narrated that Sayyidina Abubakr Radiyallahu 'Anbu once presented a leg of a goat. It was night time and Sayyiditina 'Aayeshah Radiyallahu 'Anha began cutting it into pieces in the dark. Someone said.. 'There is no lamp in the house'. She began to say: 'If there was oil for a lamp, would it not have been used for cooking?' The 'ulama have written that Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam preferred this way for himself and his family, although the keys of treasures were presented to him. The ummah thereafter split into four groups. One is that group that did not take interest in the material aspects of the world, nor did the world go towards them, like Sayyidina Abubakr Siddiqe Radiyallahu 'Anhu. The second group are those who did not take interest in worldly things, but the world took interest in them, like Sayyidina 'Umar Faaruq Radiyallahu 'Anhu. The third group are those who took interest in the material world, and the world also took interest in them, like the Banu Umayyah kings excluding 'Umar bin 'Abdul 'aziz Radiyallahu 'Anhu. The fourth group are those who went seeking for the material world, but the world did not turn towards them, like the one's whom Allah Ta'aala has made poor, and the love for the world has settled in their hearts. - Munaawi.

It was a custom among the people of Madinah that they fastened stones onto their stomachs when they experienced severe pangs of hunger. This was done so that they do not feel weak while walking and that wind might not build up in the stomach. Some of the 'ulama are of the opinion that this is a special type of stone of Madinah known as mishba'ah. Allah Ta'aala has put this peculiarity in this stone that if it is worn it will cool the pangs of hunger. The first explanation is clearer, because even today this is done, that when severe hunger is experienced a cloth is tightly fastened around the stomach, which is beneficial for weakness and soothes the pangs of hunger. Some 'ulama say it is possible that wind collects in an empty stomach, and by fastening a stone or a heavy object, it gives relief from hunger. Some of the 'ulama have written that when the stomach is altogether empty, it is feared that the intestines will come down, especially when walking, and by fastening the stomach this fear does not remain. Also when the stomach becomes altogether empty, the back also becomes bent. It is possible that worms may appear. An objection may occur that in many ahaadith it is stated Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam fasted for many days continuously, and when the Sahaabah intended to do so, Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam forbade them to do so, and said: 'This is specially for me, that I can fast for many days without eating, because Allah Ta'aala feeds me and gives me to drink'. How is this eating and drinking? This is on its place, but we find that by outwardly not eating, hunger did not have an effect on Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam. In this case the necessity to fasten a stone on the stomach does not remain. Since there are many ahaadith on the fasting of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam, for this reason some of the 'ulama have according to the principles and rules of hadith regarded this as a da'eef (weak) hadith but the findings of the majority of the muhadditheen is that there are many narrations on this subject. The differences between this hadith and the ones on fasting are not of such a nature, that it cannot be said that these were on different occasions. Therefore, the necessity does not arise to judge these ahaadith as weak. Many sayings have been mentioned on these two hadith. (a.) The narration of fastening a stone was in the early periods. It is a fact that Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu. 'Alayhi Wasallam progressed spiritually as time went by. Therefore the narration on fasting will be that of a later period. (b.) The eating and drinking are particular with fasting. This is witnessed by the general Muslims too, that while in the state of fasting one does not feel the effects of hunger and tiredness as much as when one is not fasting. In this case what could be said regarding Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam when his fasting was of a high calibre and reached completeness. (c.) According to the different times both conditions are of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam, like it is with the mashaa-ikh of suluk (spiritual guides), that at different times they experience different conditions. In this manner it will not be necessary to regard this hadith as that of the early periods. It is possible that in later times both conditions were experienced. (d.) Surely the effect of hunger did not affect Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam. The fastening of stones was in sympathy and joining the poor and needy by becoming part of them. It is a general rule, that when the great experience some hardships, the fortunate young ones do not pay much attention to their own difficulties. In this case, what could be said of the Sahaabah Radiyallahu 'Anhum? whose love for Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam knew no bounds. (e.) Allah Ta'aala feeding Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam was surely in honouring him, and not something incumbent. At times when the Sahaabah experienced great poverty and hunger, and it reached such a stage where stones had to be fastened on the stomach, at such a time Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam did not take the benefit of such favours. When a child suffers hunger, food does not go down a mother's gullet. In such a manner what could be said about Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam, when his love for the ummah exceeded the love of thousands of mothers.

The wife of Abul Haytham Radiyallahu 'Anhu was among the best advisers, through whose advice a pious slave, who kept up, his salaah, was freed. And she did not care the least of one's own troubles and difficulties. He did not also think that after such a long struggle a slave was obtained, at least let the slave work for a few days, so that we might rest, then later the slave could be freed.

In this hadith Imaam Tirmidhi only wishes to describe the poverty and difficulties. Therefore this hadith has been shortened to show that due to the poverty and hardship the mujahideen did not even get food. This Muslim army ate leaves from the tree and made jihaad. In this hadith Sa'ad Radiyallahu 'Anhu mentioned his good deeds, dedication, and his being from among those veteran Muslims who accepted Islaam in its early stages. The reason for this is that during the reign of 'Umar Radiyallahu 'Anhu, he was amir of Kufah. Some residents of Kufah made many complaints against him to 'Umar Radiyallahu 'Anhu. They even complained that he did not perform salaah properly. 'Umar Radiyallahu 'Anhu sent for him. After calling him he said to him: 'The people are lodging many complaints against you. They are even complaining of your salaah'. In reply to that while stating his innocence, he mentioned his being from among the old Muslims, his sufferings in the path of Islaam etc. He said: 'These people threaten me on my salaah. I perform salaah in the same manner I have seen Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam perform it, and I am not lax in the least'. Upon that 'Umar Radiyallahu 'Anhu sent two people with him to Kufah, that they go around and investigate the matter. They did not leave out a single masjid of Kufah wherein they did not go and interview the musallis (worshippers). All praised Sa'ad Radiyallahu 'Anhu, but one person said: 'When you are asking to swear an oath and speak the truth, I shall say the facts to you, that Sa'ad Radiyallhu 'Anhu does not participate in jihaad, as if he is in love with his life. The second is that he does not distribute the wealth equally, and is not just in his verdicts'. Sa'ad Radiyallahu 'Anhu said: He has made three complaints, therefore I shall make three curses upon him. 'O Allah, if this person is a liar, and he has lifted his head for the sake of fame and to show the world, that by criticising a leader, fame is gained, then suitable to every false criticism, lengthen his life, increase in his poverty, and entangle him in mischief’s'. Thereafter, an eye witness reports that, I saw that person, due to old age his eye lids drooped, he fell into poverty, and molested girls in the streets and alleys. When someone asked him, what had happened to you, he used to reply: 'The curse of Sa'd (Radiyallahu 'Anhu) has befallen me'. O Allah, we seek protection from Your anger, the anger of Your Rasul, and the anger of Your pious servants. Sa'd Radiyallahu 'Anhu has drawn attention to three things in this hadith. (a). That he was the first to shed the blood of a non-believer. This incident took place before the hijrah. The people were suffering hardships and were troubled in Makkah. They hid from the non-believers and performed their salaah and other devotions. Once, a few persons, among whom was also Sa'd Radiyallahu 'Anhu, were performing salaah in a valley. Suddenly a group of non-believers appeared there. They tormented the Muslims and began fighting with them. Sa'd Radiyallahu 'Anhu picked up a jawbone of a camel that was lying there and threw it onto one of the non-believers, as a result blood began to flow. This is what is meant by shedding the blood of the non-believers. (b). That he was the first to shoot an arrow in the path of Allah. This incident took place in the first year hijri. This was the first sariyyah (expedition) that Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam sent to Raabigh under the command of 'Ubaydah bin Haarith Radiyallahu 'Anhu. A battle took place against the non-believers, and arrows were shot from both sides. From the side of the Muslims Sa'd Radiyallahu 'Anhu was the first to shoot an arrow. (c). The third is of eating leaves in jihaad. This incident was during the Sariyyah of Khabt,`which according to different sources took place in the fifth year hijri. This incident in brief is that Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam sent a group of three hundred Muhaajireen and Ansaar under the command' of 'Ubaydah ibnul Jarraah Radiyallahu 'Anhu to a place on the coast, which was a distance of about five days journey from Madinah Munawwarah, against the tribe of Juhaynah. In the beginning three camels were slaughtered daily. When the amir forbade the slaughtering of camels fearing these would decrease, dates were distributed. These also decreased till everyone received only one date daily. They kept on sucking it and drank water. When this too became scarce, the time came when leaves had to be shaken off trees and eaten. The meaning of khabt is to shake off leaves, therefore this sariyyah became well known as the Sariyyah of Khabt. The beginning of this incident was difficult and full of obstacles, and the end that of pleasantness, which could be read in the books on the history of Islaam. It has been briefly mentioned by this humble servant in the third chapter of my book 'Stories of the Sahaabah'.

Apparently the reason for 'Utbah Radiyallahu 'Anhu mentioning his condition is to make known two things. The first is that the difficulties that are experienced and tolerated in the path of the deen, are also mostly rewarded in this world. For the difficulties that one will experience, In-sha-Allah one will reap the rewards. The second is that if one confronts anything from an amir which disturbs one, one should tolerate it, as this is a very great blessing, compared to the conditions one will face in the near future.

This incident as the author has mentioned in his 'Jaami' took place once when going out of Makkah. This was not at the time of hijrah, as Bilaal Radiyallahu 'Anhu did not accompany Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam at the time of hijrah. It took place at another time. The meaning of 'I had been threatened' is that in the early period when Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam did not have many companions and followers, he was troubled and mocked at in the path of Allah. It is natural that when a person is alone, hardships are felt more than if one is part of a group.

The 'Ulama give various meanings for dafaf. This has been explained in detail in the commentary of hadith number two of this chapter. Although the subject of this hadith is not the same as in the hadith mentioned there. Apparently it means, that when Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam was alone, he partook whatever was available for meals, even if it was only bread or meat. He certainly would make an effort to have both things available when visitors arrived.

The Sahaabah Radiyallahu 'Anhum feared that this well being may not be included among that prediction, which is mentioned in the Qur-aan:

"...Ye squandered your good things in the life of the world and sought comfort therein. Now this day ye are rewarded with the doom of ignominy because ye were disdainful in the land without a right, and because ye used to transgress". - Suratul Ahqaaf, 20.