Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that a person came to Allah's Messenger ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) and said: I am hard pressed by hunger. He sent (message) to one of his wives (to procure food for him) but she said: By Him Who has sent you with Truth, thrre is nothing with me (to serve him) but only water. He (the Holy Prophet) then sent the (same) message to another, and she gave the same reply, until all of them gave the same reply: By Him Who has sent thee with the Truth, there is nothing with me but only water, whereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Allah would show mercy to him who will entertain this guest tonight. A person from the Ansar stood up and said: Messenger of Allah, I am ready to entertain. He took him to his house and said to his wife: Is there anything with you (to serve the guest)? She said: No, but only a subsistence for our children. He said: Distract their attention with something, and when the guest enters extinguish the lamp and give him the impression that we are eating. So they sat down and the guest had his meal. When it was morning he went to Allah's Apostle ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) who said: Allah was well pleased with what you both did for your guest this night.

Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that a guest spent the night with a person from the Ansar who had nothing with him but food (sufficient) for his own self and his children. He said to his wife: (Lull) the children to sleep, and put out the lamp, and serve the guest with what you have with you. It was on this occasion that this verse was revealed: "Those who prefer the needy to their own selves in spite of the fact that they are themselves in pressing need" (Lix. 9).

Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that a man came to Allah's Messenger ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) so that he should entertain him as a guest, but he had nothing with which he could entertain him. He, therefore, asked if there was any person who would entertain him (assuring the audience) that Allah would show mercy to him. A person from the Ansar who was called Abu Talha stood up and he took him to his house. The rest of the hadith is the same and mention is (also) made in that about the revelation of the verse as narrated by Waki'.