Road Trips & Food (Ahadith 2619 – 2622)

Bismillah.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 223 :
Narrated by Jabir bin ‘Abdullah (radiallaahu `anhu)
During the life-time of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) we used to take the meat of sacrificed animals (as journey food) to Medina.

How they preserve that meat for the length of their travel, I have no idea! Lucky for us, we live in the age of coolers and ice packs.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 224 :
Narrated by Suwaid bin An-Nu’man (radiallaahu `anhu)
That he went out in the company of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) during the year of Khaibar (campaign till they reached a place called As-Sahba’, the lower part of Khaibar. They offered the ‘Asr prayer (there) and the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) asked for the food. Nothing but Sawiq was brought to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam). So, they chewed it and ate it and drank water. After that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) got up, washed his mouth, and they too washed their mouths and then offered the prayer.

Sawiq is a kind of barley porridge.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 225 :
Narrated by Salama (radiallaahu `anhu)
Once the journey-food of the people ran short and they were in great need. So, they came to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) to take his permission for slaughtering their camels, and he permitted them. Then ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) met them and they informed him about it. He said, “What will sustain you after your camels (are finished)?” Then ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) went to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! What will sustain them after their camels (are finished)?” Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Make an announcement amongst the people that they should bring all their remaining food (to me).” (They brought it and) the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) invoked Allah and asked for His Blessings for it. Then he asked them to bring their food utensils and the people started filling their food utensils with their hands till they were satisfied. Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) then said, “I testify that None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and I am His Apostle. “

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 226 :
Narrated by Wahb bin Kaisan
Jabir bin ‘Abdullah (radiallaahu `anhu) said, “We set out, and we were three-hundred men carrying our journey-food on our shoulders. Then we began to eat a single date each per day.” A man asked (Jabir), “O Abu ‘Abdullah! How could a person be satisfied with a single date?” Jabir (radiallaahu `anhu) replied, “We realized the value of that one date when we could not even have that much till we reached the sea-shore, when all of a sudden we saw a huge fish cast by the sea. So, we ate of it as much as we wished for eighteen days.”

Here are some tips on packing food for road trips.

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The Etiquette of Sharing (Hadith No. 2132)

Bismillah.

 

Volume 3, Book 43, Number 635:
Narrated Jabala:
“We were in Medina with some of the Iraqi people, and we were struck with famine and Ibn Az-Zubair used to give us dates. Ibn ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) used to pass by and say, “The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) forbade us to eat two dates at a time, unless one takes the permission of one’s companions.”

When we’re sharing food with someone, you can’t have more than what they’re having. If they take a bite, you take an equal bite. If you want a bigger one, seek permission. And that’s how you share food!

Do Sadaqah. NOW! (Ahadith 1191 – 1194)

Bismillah.

Volume 2, Book 24, Number 492:

Narrated Haritha bin Wahab :

I heard the Prophet saying, “O people! Give in charity as a time will come upon you when a person will wander about with his object of charity and will not find anybody to accept it, and one (who will be requested to take it) will say, “If you had brought it yesterday, would have taken it, but today I am not in need of it.”

Volume 2, Book 24, Number 493:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, “The Hour (Day of Judgment) will not be established till your wealth increases so much so that one will be worried, for no one will accept his Zakat and the person to whom he will give it will reply, ‘I am not in need of it.’ “

Prophet (SAW) warned of a time that’ll come which will be a time of abundance in wealth [and that did happen in `Umar (RA)’s caliphate]. He (SAW) insisted that we give sadaqah from our wealth, be it little, before we don’t find anyone in need of it.
You might think that’s not the case today. Plenty of poor people we find around us whom we can help out by charity. But really, these Ahadith insist on not ignoring the opportunity when it comes knocking. One day it’s there, and the next day it isn’t. The opportunity that Allah provided you with to earn reward by doing little won’t stay long. And it might happen that the opportunity stays, but you’re no longer there. Get it?
Be smart. Do Sadaqah. NOW!

Volume 2, Book 24, Number 494:

Narrated ‘Adi bin Hatim:

While I was sitting with Allah’s Apostle (p.b.u.h) two person came to him; one of them complained about his poverty and the other complained about the prevalence of robberies. Allah’s Apostle said, “As regards stealing and robberies, there will shortly come a time when a caravan will go to Mecca (from Medina) without any guard. And regarding poverty, The Hour (Day of Judgment) will not be established till one of you wanders about with his object of charity and will not find anybody to accept it And (no doubt) each one of you will stand in front of Allah and there will be neither a curtain nor an interpreter between him and Allah, and Allah will ask him, ‘Did not I give you wealth?’ He will reply in the affirmative. Allah will further ask, ‘Didn’t I send a messenger to you?’ And again that person will reply in the affirmative Then he will look to his right and he will see nothing but Hell-fire, and then he will look to his left and will see nothing but Hell-fire. And so, any (each one) of you should save himself from the fire even by giving half of a date-fruit (in charity). And if you do not find a half date-fruit, then (you can do it through saying) a good pleasant word (to your brethren). (See Hadith No. 793 Vol. 4).

Bottom line: sadaqah saves from the Fire. So save yourselves. Do Sadaqah. NOW!

Volume 2, Book 24, Number 495:

Narrated Abu Musa:

Thy Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “A time will come upon the people when a person will wander about with gold as Zakat and will not find anybody to accept it, and one man will be seen followed by forty women to be their guardian because of scarcity of men and great number of women. “

Note that you’re not required to spend great amounts of money as sadaqah. Be it as little as half a date or as much as gold worth Mount Uhad, ‘giving’ counts. Sincerity of intentions counts.

So won’t you do something about it? Won’t you get up right now and do sadaqah? At least make the intention of doing it later! Because I can’t stress more on the point that you need to do sadaqah. NOW!

Ah, here’s a nice idea. Make a Sadaqah Jar!
Keep collecting money in it and spend when opportunity knocks. Involve family members in this little activity so you can get the reward for their sadaqah as well. ;)