The Illustrious Sahaabah The Illustrious Sahaabah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
On one occasion, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had no food to eat and was undergoing hunger. When Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) learnt that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was undergoing hunger, his heart was immediately filled with worry and concern. Such was his love for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that he could not rest while knowing that the Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was in difficulty and hardship. However, Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) himself did not have any food to share with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
Hence, Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) left his home to look for some work so that he could earn wealth to purchase food for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). As Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) went around looking for work, he came to an orchard belonging to a certain Jew. Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) offered to draw out water from the well for the Jew, on the condition that for each bucket of water he draws out, the Jew should pay him one date.
The Jew accepted and Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) drew out seventeen buckets of water from the well. When the time of payment arrived, the Jew offered Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to take any type of dates he wished from his orchard. Thus, Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) took seventeen dates of the ‘Ajwah variety, and then brought them and presented them to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
When he presented the dates to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) addressed him by his kunyah (filial title) and asked him, “O Abul Hasan! Where did you get these dates from?” Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “O Nabi of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! I heard of the hunger that you are undergoing, so I went out seeking some work so that I could acquire some food to present to you!”
Hearing this, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked him, “Did you do this solely out of love for Allah Ta‘ala and His Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)?” Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “Yes, O Nabi of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)!”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then said, “There is no slave who possesses true love for Allah Ta‘ala and His Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), except that he will be tested (at times) with poverty. Hence, the one who possesses true love for Allah Ta‘ala and His Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) should be prepared to face the test of sabr.”
(Sunan Kubra lil-Bayhaqi #11649 and Sunan Ibnu Maajah #2446)
