Narrated by Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) set out to fight the polytheists, so my father said to me:“It is no problem if you stay among those who look after the people of Madinah, until you see what happens to us. By Allah, if I were not concerned for my daughters after me, I would have liked that you be martyred before me.”Meanwhile, I was among those looking after the family when my paternal aunt brought my father and uncle so that they could be buried in our graveyard. Then a man came calling out:“The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commands you to ‘bring back the martyrs and bury them where they were martyred.’”So we returned them and buried them where they had been martyred.

(Time passed) When the caliphate of Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan came, a man came to me and said:“O Jabir, son of Abdullah! Muawiyah’s workers have removed the earth from your father and he has become exposed, and a part of him has become visible.”I went to him and found him exactly as he had been buried, unchanged. I covered him again with earth.

My father had left a debt of dates upon himself, and some creditors were very harsh with me in demanding repayment. So I went to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and said:“O Messenger of Allah! My father was martyred on such-and-such a day and he left a debt of dates, and some creditors are being harsh with me in demanding repayment. So I wish that you help me so that they may grant me respite until the next harvest.”The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:“Alright, I will come to you at noon, insha’Allah.”

Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came with his companions and sat in the shade, greeted with salam, and sought permission to enter. I had informed my wife that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would come at noon, so remain behind the veil and do not let the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) be troubled in my house, nor speak to him. So she prepared the bedding and pillow, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) lay down and slept. I said to my servant:“Slaughter this kid goat, which is domesticated, very healthy, swift, and agile, and finish before the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) wakes up.”So we both got busy and finished, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was still asleep.

I said:“When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) wakes up, he asks for water. I fear that when he washes his face and hands, he might leave, so as soon as he washes his face, present the kid goat before him.”When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) woke up, he said:“Jabir, bring water.”I said:“Here it is,”and before he finished his ablution, the slaughtered kid goat was presented before him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) looked at Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) and said:“Perhaps you know that meat is dear to us? Go and call Abu Bakr as well,”and he also called those companions who had come with him. The food was brought and placed, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) placed his blessed hand on it and said:“Begin eating in the name of Allah.”So they all ate to their fill, and much meat was left over. By Allah, the people of the sitting place of Banu Salamah were watching them; it seemed better to them, but they did not come near, fearing they might trouble the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his companions stood up and left, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) kept saying:“Leave my back for the angels.”I followed them to the door, and my wife, from behind the veil, put her head out and said:“O Messenger of Allah! Pray for me and my husband.”The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed:“May Allah send mercy and blessings upon you and your husband.”

Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:“Call so-and-so,”the one who had been harsh with me in demanding his debt, and said to him:“Give Jabir some respite, and take some of the debt at the time of the next harvest.”He replied:“No, I cannot do that,”and excused himself saying it was the property of orphans. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:“Where is Jabir?”I said:“O Messenger of Allah! I am here.”He said:“Weigh out (what you have) and give it to them. Allah will make it sufficient.”The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his head to the sky, and the sun was declining. He said:“Abu Bakr, let us go for prayer.”So everyone set out for prayer.

I said to my creditor:“Bring your container near,”and I began to weigh out the Ajwa dates. Allah made it sufficient, and much was left over after the debt was paid. I ran, as if I were a spark flying from fire, to the mosque to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and found that he had finished the prayer. I said:“O Messenger of Allah! I weighed out the Ajwa dates for my creditor, and not only was it sufficient, but much was left over.”Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:“Where is Umar bin al-Khattab?”So Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) came running. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him:“Ask Jabir about his creditor and the dates.”He replied:“When I know that you have prayed for him that Allah make it sufficient, then there is no need to ask (i.e., surely Allah has paid off his debt).”The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) repeated this three times, and each time he gave the same answer, and it was the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) habit not to repeat something more than three times.

Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:“What did your creditor do, and what happened to the dates?”I replied:“Allah made the debt sufficient and much was left over.”Then I returned home and said to my wife:“Did I not tell you not to speak to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in my house?”She (the blessed one) replied:“What do you think? Allah sends His Prophet to my house and he leaves, and I do not request him to pray for me and you?”