Ibn ‘Abbâs narrates: Abu Bakr came out to the mosque in the midday heat. ‘Umar heard about that, so he said: 'O Abu Bakr, what brings you out at this time?' He said: 'It is only the severe hunger that I feel that brought me out.' He responded: 'I too, by Allah, was only brought out by that.' As they were there, the Prophet (saws) came out to them and asked: 'What brings you both out at this time?' They said: 'By Allah, it is only the severe hunger that we feel in our stomachs that brought us out.' He said: 'I too, by the One in whose hand is my soul, was only brought out by that. Stand up.' They went out until they reached the door of Abu Ayyoob al-Ansâri. Abu Ayyoob used to set aside some food or milk for the Messenger of Allah (saws), but he had come late that day - past his usual time - so he let his family eat it and went out to work in his date palms. When they reached the door, his wife came out and said: 'Welcome, O Prophet of Allah (saws), and to those who are with him!' The Prophet (saws) asked her: 'Where is Abu Ayyoob?' He had heard him as he was working in some of his date palms, so he came running. He said: 'Welcome, Prophet of Allah (saws), and to those who are with him! O Prophet of Allah, this is not the usual time that you would come.' The Prophet (saws) said: 'That is true.' He went out and cut a bunch of dates from the palm trees, containing all kinds of dry, moist, and green dates. The Prophet (saws) said: 'I did not intend this. You should have just picked the dry ones for us.' He said: 'O Prophet of Allah, I wanted you to eat from the dry, the moist, and the green ones. I will also slaughter for you in addition to this.' He said: 'If you do slaughter, then do not slaughter the one with milk.' He then took a young female or male goat and slaughtered it. He said to his wife: 'Bake some dough for us, for you know more about baking.' He took the young goat, cooked it, and grilled half of it. When the food was ready, he placed it before the Prophet (saws) and his companions. [The Prophet (saws)] then took some of the goat and placed it in a loaf of bread. He said: 'O Abu Ayyoob, send this to Fâtimah, for she has not had anything like this for days.' Abu Ayyoob then brought it to Fâtimah. After they ate and were satisfied, the Prophet (saws) said: 'Bread, meat, dry dates, green dates, and moist dates!' as his eyes teared. 'I swear by the One in whose hand is my soul, these are certainly the pleasures about which you will be asked! Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says: Then, on that Day, you will definitely be questioned about ˹your worldly˺ pleasures. [102:8] 'These are certainly the pleasures about which you will be asked on the Day of Resurrection.' That affected his companions greatly, so he said: 'When you obtain the likes of this and have struck with your hands, then say: ‘In the name of Allah’ (bismillâh). Then when you are satisfied, say: ‘All praise is due to Allah, who was the One who satisfied us, blessed us, and was generous to us’ (al-hamdu lillâh il-ladhi huwa ashba‘anâ wa an‘ama ‘alaynâ wa afdhal); this is enough of a response for it.' When he got up, he said to Abu Ayyoob: 'Come to us tomorrow.' No one would ever extend a favor to him except that he would repay him. Abu Ayyoob, however, did not hear that, so ‘Umar said: 'The Prophet (saws) instructed you to visit him tomorrow.' He came to him the next day, and he have him a young servant girl. He said: 'O Abu Ayyoob, take care to treat her well, for we only saw goodness while she was with us.' When Abu Ayyoob brought her from being with the Messenger of Allah (saws), he said: 'I do not see anything better for the advice of the Messenger of Allah (saws) than to set her free,' so he freed her. [Sound: Narrated by Ibn Hibbân (5216), and at-Tabarâni in as-Sagheer (185)]