Abu Hurayra related: “The Noble Messenger commanded me, ‘Invite the poor Makkan migrants who have made the Bench [suffa](104) of the Mosque their home and who number more than a hundred.’ So I went and searched for them and gathered them together. A tray of food was set before us, and we ate as much as we wanted, then we arose. The dish remained full as it was when set down, only, the traces of fingers on the food were visible.(105)

Thus, this incident is related by Abu Hurayra in the name of all the People of the Bench, supported by their confirmation. Hence, the incident is as definite as if all the People of the Bench had related it. Is it at all possible that if it had not been true those men of truth and perfection would have remained silent and not denied it?

T e n t h E x a m p l e : According to an authen-tic narration from ‘Ali, the Noble Messenger (Upon whom be blessings and peace) once gathered the Bani ‘Abd al-Muttalib. They were about forty, including some who would eat a young camel and drink a gallon of milk in one meal. Yet for them he had prepared only a handful of food. All ate and were satisfied, and the food

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(104) The People of the Bench: those among the Makkan migrants (Muhajirun) who lived in the outer part of the Mosque, who devoted their lives to the preservation and dissemination of the Qur’an, Sunna, and Hadith, and whose livelihood was provided by the Prophet (PBUH). (Tr.)
(105) Qadi Iyad, al-Shifa: i, 293; ‘Ali al-Qari, Sharh al-Shifa: i, 606; al-Haythami, Majma’ al-Zawa’id viii, 308; Bayhaqi, Dala’il al-Nubuwwa vi, 101.