An account, a miracle
I don’t like Milk
Maulana Arshad Aslam Attari Madani
After finishing dinner, the children gathered in Grandfather’s room. Umm-e-Habibah brought cups of warm milk for everyone. Khubayb took his cup, but as usual, Suhayb refused. ‘You should not refuse milk. Did you know that our Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم liked milk?’ asked Grandfather.
‘Really?’ asked Khubayb in astonishment. ‘Yes! He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم encouraged us to drink milk,’ said Grandfather, ‘He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم advised us to drink cow’s milk because it takes nourishment from every plant and it contains a cure for every disease,’ (Mustadrak, vol. 5, p. 575, Hadith 8274; Al-Tayseer bi-Sharh Jami’-us- Sagheer, vol. 1, p. 260).
Hearing the benefits of milk, Suhayb said, ‘Grandfather! I will drink milk every day from now on.’ Grandfather tapped Suhayb on the back in a bid to encourage him, then said, ‘Children! I will tell you about a miracle regarding milk: There were some noble companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم, such as Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, who committed themselves to the sole pursuit of religious knowledge. Our Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم took personal care of them.
One day, feeling extremely hungry, Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ sat in a place where people would pass by regularly. Shortly after, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ happened to be walking by. Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ seized the opportunity and began talking to him, hoping that he would invite him for a meal. Alas, that did not happen. Then, Sayyiduna Umar Farooq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ walked past and Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ began conversing with him, hoping to be invited for a meal. The conversation ended but Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah’s hunger was not satiated.’
Grandfather leaned against the wall and taking a deep breath, placed a pillow in his lap. ‘After some time, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was walking past. He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم looked at Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ and smiled, immediately understanding his companion’s need. ‘Come with me to my home,’ said the Generous Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. As they arrived, a bowl of milk was brought out. ‘Go and call all of our seekers of knowledge,’ said the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.’
‘Oh no! Grandfather!’ Suhayb cried, ‘How will Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ be satiated if a single bowl of milk is shared among so many people?’ Grandfather replied, ‘This is exactly what Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was thinking.’
Grandfather continued, ‘Nevertheless, it was the command of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, so he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ called them. Very quickly, the house was packed with guests. With all of the guests seated, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم turned to Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ: ‘Take this bowl and pass it around. Later on in life, Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said about this incident, ‘I gave the bowl full of milk to one person, he drank to his fill, then I handed it to the next person. I continued passing the bowel around until finally, I returned it to the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. All of those who were invited to the home had drunk till they were satiated.’
With the bowl now in the blessed hands of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم looked at Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ with a smile and said: ‘Drink.’ So, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ drank then stopped. ‘Drink some more,’ said the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ drank again. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم kept telling him to drink and he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ kept on drinking until he could drink no more, swearing by Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ that his stomach could not take another drop. The Generous Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم took the bowl, praised and glorified Allah Almighty, recited ‘بِسْمِ الله’ and then drank the remainder of the milk,’ (Bukhari, vol. 4, p. 234, Hadith 6452 Summarised).
Grandfather looked towards the children: ‘Do you know how many guests there were?’ Suhayb answered, ‘Grandfather, how can we know their number? Tell us please.’ Grandfather said, ‘Those who drank the milk were seventy in number.’
‘A small bowl and seventy people! How can that be?’ asked a bewildered Khubayb.
Grandfather smiled: ‘This was a miracle of our Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and these types of miracles occurred frequently.’
Comments