when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came in, giving a greeting that the one who was awake could hear yet gentle enough not to disturb the sleeper. He then went to the mosque and prayed, after which he came to the cup, uncovered it, and, seeing nothing in it, said:

“O Allah, feed whoever has fed me and give drink to whoever has given me drink.”

I seized the opportunity of that supplication. Wrapping the cloak more tightly around myself, I rose, took the knife⦗11⦘, and went over to the she-goats, running my hand over them⦗2⦘ to find the fattest one so that I might slaughter it for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Yet my hand did not pass over the udder of a single goat without finding it swollen with milk⦗3⦘. I therefore brought a vessel belonging to the family of Muhammad—one they had never imagined could be filled with milk—milked until I filled the cup, and then carried it to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

He asked, “Have you had your drink tonight, Miqdad?” I replied, “Drink, O Messenger of Allah!” He lifted his head toward me and said, “Shame on you, Miqdad—what is the matter?” I said, “Drink first, and then I will tell you.” He drank until he was satisfied, then handed the cup to me and I drank. When