SECTION ON VOWS · 14 – THE SITUATION OF ONE WHO SWEARS NOT TO EAT
3270 – From ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abū Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him): Guests came to us. My father, Abū Bakr, would spend the night with the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him). My father said, “I will not return until you have completed their hospitality.” I brought the food to them. The guests said, “We will not eat this food until Abū Bakr comes.” Abū Bakr came and said, “What did our guests do? Did you serve them their food?” The guests said, “No.” I said, “I brought them their food, but they did not eat. By Allah, they said, ‘We will not eat until Abū Bakr comes.’” The guests said, “ʿAbd al-Raḥmān has spoken the truth; he brought us the food, but we did not want to eat until you came.” Abū Bakr said, “What prevented you from eating?” The guests said, “Your position (your rank in the presence of the Prophet).” Abū Bakr said, “By Allah, I will not eat that food tonight.” ʿAbd al-Raḥmān says: The guests said, “By Allah, we will not eat it either.” ʿAbd al-Raḥmān said, “I have not seen a night more troublesome than that night.” Abū Bakr said, “Serve your food.” The food was served. Abū Bakr said the basmala (in the name of Allah), and ate. The guests also ate. As I was informed, in the morning my father went early to the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) and informed him of what he and the guests had done. The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “You are the best and most steadfast of them (in keeping your oath), and the most truthful.” [147]
3271 – A similar narration to the one just mentioned from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abū Bakr was transmitted. In the narration reported from Sālim, there is an addition: (There) he said, “The knowledge that expiation (kaffāra) would be required did not reach me.”