The Barley Loaf That Fed Eighty

Anas ibn Malik reported:

Abu Talhah said to Umm Sulaym:

I heard the voice of the Messenger of Allah faintly.

I can tell he is hungry. Do you have anything?

She brought out rounds of barley bread, then she brought out a headscarf for herself.

She wrapped the bread with some of it, then tucked it under my garment and sent me back with some of it.

Then she sent me to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

He said: So I took it to him and found the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, in the mosque with the people.

I stood up among them, and the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said to me, "Did Abu Talhah send you?"

I said, "Yes." He said, "With food." He said it again, and I said, "Yes."

The Messenger of Allah, may Allah send blessings upon him and grant him peace, said to those with him, "Stand up."

So he set off, and I moved among them until I reached Abu Talha.

So Abu Talha said, "O Umm Sulaym, the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, has come with the people."

We do not have any food to feed them.

So she said, "Allah and His Messenger know best."

He said, so Abu Talha set out until he met the Messenger of God, may God send blessings and peace upon him.

So Abu Talhah and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah send blessings and peace upon him, came forward and entered.

The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said, "Come here, Umm Sulaym; what do you have?"

She brought that bread, and he ordered it to be crumbled.

And Umm Sulaym squeezed a skin of clarified butter for her, and she seasoned it.

Then the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said what God willed him to say.

Then he said, "Allow ten," and he permitted them.

So they ate until they were full, then they went out,

Then he said, "Allow ten." He granted them permission, and they ate until they were full. Then they went out.

Then he said, "Permit ten." He permitted them, and they ate until they were full, then they went out.

Then he permitted ten, and all the people ate and were satisfied.