It is stated in Khaza`in-ul-‘Irfan: Once a hungry man came to the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. The Prophet of Rahmah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم enquired from all the Ummahat-ul-Mu`mineen رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُـنَّ if there was some food, but none of them had anything to eat. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said to the blessed companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم, ‘May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ shower His mercy upon the one who accepts him as his guest.’ Sayyiduna Abu Talhah Ansari رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ stood up and took the guest to his house. He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ asked to the mother of his children, ‘Is there something to eat at home?’ She replied, ‘Some food is kept for the children.’ Sayyiduna Abu Talhah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ said, ‘Somehow, make the children sleep. When the guest starts to have the meal, get up and pretend to set the lamp right and extinguish it so that the guest eats comfortably.’
This plan is to be carried out so that the guest remains unaware of the fact that the hosts are not eating with him, otherwise, he will force them to eat and since the food is less, he will remain hungry. In this way, Sayyiduna Abu Talhah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ fed the guest and he himself and his family members remained hungry for the whole night.
Next morning, when he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ went to the court of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, upon seeing Sayyiduna Abu Talhah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘At night, a strange incident happened in someone’s house.