English Translation

Al-Harith b. Abd al-Rahman related: While I was sitting with Abu Salamah b. Abd al-Rahman, a man from Banu Ghifar, a son of Abdullah b. Tikhfah, came to us. Abu Salamah said, "Will you not tell us about your father?" He said: My father, Abdullah b. Tikhfah, told me that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, when his guests grew numerous, would say, "Let every man take a guest to his home." Then one night many guests gathered with him, and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Let every man go with his companion." I was among those who went with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. When he entered, he said, "O A'ishah, is there anything?" She said, "Yes, a huwaysah [a small portion of dates and butter] I had prepared for you to break your fast with." He said: She brought it in a small bowl, and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, took a little of it and ate, then said, "Take it, in the name of Allah." So we ate from it until we could see nothing left of it. Then he said, "Do you have anything to drink?" She said, "Yes, a little milk I had prepared for you." He said, "Bring it." She brought it, and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, took it, raised it to his mouth, and drank a little, then said, "Drink, in the name of Allah." So we drank until, by Allah, we could see nothing left of it. Then we went out and came to the mosque, and I lay down on my face. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came out waking the people for prayer, saying, "The prayer, the prayer," as he used to do when he went out to wake people for prayer. He passed by me while I was lying on my face and said, "Who is this?" I said, "I am Abdullah b. Tikhfah." He said, "This is a lying position that Allah, Mighty and Sublime, dislikes."