11 – Ahmad b. Jamil narrated to us; ʿAbd Allah b. al-Mubarak narrated to us; Ismaʿil b. Muslim al-ʿAbdi informed us; Abu al-Mutawakkil narrated to us:

A Muslim man had gone three consecutive days in a state of fasting, unable to find anything with which to break his fast, and each morning he would begin the fast anew. An Anṣari man named Thabit b. Qays (may Allah be pleased with him) noticed him and said to his family, “Tonight I will bring a guest. When you set out the food, let one of you rise to the lamp as though to adjust it, then extinguish it. After that, move your hands toward the food as if you are eating, but do not eat until our guest is satisfied.” They did so, even though all they possessed for supper was a single loaf of bread—their only provisions.

When morning came, Thabit b. Qays went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The Prophet said, “O Thabit, Allah marveled last night at you and your guest.” Concerning them the verse was revealed: “They prefer others to themselves even though they themselves are in need” (al-Hashr 59:9).