While I was asleep, a young maiden came to me, shook me by the leg to awaken me and asked me to follow her. I did as she requested. She took me to her house and placed before me some bread, ghee and dates. She then said, “Abul ‘Abbaas! Eat, because my grandfather, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), commanded me to feed you. Whenever you feel hungry, you are free to come here and partake of our food.”

After quoting the above incident, Hazrat Shaikhul Hadith, Moulana Muhammed Zakariyya (rahimahullah) mentioned, “It will be noticed that in the majority of such incidents, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) instructed such people who were his blood relations, belonging to his noble family, to assist the needy. This was especially the case when the hungry were in need of food. Those who love to give in charity will always take from their own household to assist those who are in need. It is for this reason that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) preferred to instruct members of his own family (the sayyids) to feed the needy.”

(Fazaa’il-e-Madinah)