B. Al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad narrated: I arrived with two companions of mine at the Prophet ﷺ. Severe hunger had overtaken us, and we approached the people but none of them offered us hospitality. The Prophet ﷺ therefore led us to his house, where he had four she-goats, and he said to me, “O Miqdad, divide their milk among us into four equal parts.” So I would divide it into quarters [each person drinking his share while we set aside the Prophet’s ﷺ share for him].

One night the Prophet ﷺ was delayed, and I said to myself, “Perhaps he has gone to one of the Helpers, eaten until he is satisfied and drunk his fill; what if I were to drink his share?” I kept on thinking this way until I got up, took his portion, and drank it; then I covered the cup again.

When I had finished, regret for what I had done overwhelmed me. I said, “The Prophet ﷺ will come hungry and find nothing,” so I wrapped myself up⦗1⦘ [He said: I was wearing a woollen cloak; whenever I drew it over my head my feet stuck out, and whenever I covered my feet my head became exposed.] [Sleep would not come to me], and I kept talking to myself [whereas my two companions had fallen asleep]. While I was in that state—