This was a mu'jizah (miracle) of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam. In Musnad Ahmad, a similar incident is narrated from Sayyidina Abu Raafi' Radiyallahu 'Anhu. This incident apparently happened to both of them. There is nothing surprising because there are many such incidents found in the life of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam, which Qaadi 'Iyaad has mentioned in his book 'Shifaa'. Sayyidina Abu Ayyub Ansaari Radiyallahu 'Anhu once invited Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam and Sayyidina Abubakr Radiyallahu 'Anhu and prepared food that was enough for two people only. Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam requested him to invite thirty respected people from among the Ansaar. He invited them and after they had eaten, Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam said: 'Now invite sixty people'. After they had eaten, others were invited. In short, the food was enough for one hundred and eighty people.

Sayyidina Samurah Radiyallahu 'Anhu says: 'Once a bowl of meat was sent to Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam from somewhere. People came to Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam from the morning till evening, and ate from it'.
 

Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah Radiyallahu 'Anhu had a bag with some dates, which were a bit more than ten in number. Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam asked him if he had anything to eat? He replied: 'I have a few dates in this bag'. Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam took out a few dates from the bag with his mubaarak hands and spread it. Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam recited a du'aa, then said: 'Invite ten people at a time and feed them'. In this manner it was sufficient for the whole army. Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam returned the dates that were left to Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah Radiyallahu 'Anhu and said: 'Keep on eating from it, but do not turn and empty it'. He kept on eating from it. Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah Radiyallahu 'Anhu says: 'I ate from it during the time of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam and the khilaafah of Abubakr, 'Umar and 'Uthmaan (Radiyallahu'Anhum). And at times took and gave sadaqah also, the amount of which must have been many maunds (one maund equals forty Seers- approx. 38 kg). At the 'time of the martyrdom of 'Uthmaan, some one took it away from me by force, and I lost it.
 

Sayyidina Anas Radiyallahu 'Anhu says that my mother prepared malidah (a type of cake) at one of the walimahs of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam. She sent it with me in a cup to Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam. Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam asked me to put the cup down and invite certain people, and also anyone else whom I might meet. I went to invite those people and also sent all those I met, till the rooms and the living quarters of the As-haabus Suffah became full. Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam said: 'Sit in groups of ten ten people and help yourselves'. After all had eaten and filled themselves, Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam told me to pick up the cup. Sayyidina Anas Radiyallahu 'Anhu says: "I cannot say if the cup was more full in the beginning or in the end."
 

There were many such incidents. Qaadi 'lyaad says that these incidents occurred in large gatherings. It is very difficult to describe such happenings differently and those that were present at these gatherings would not have kept silent if these happenings were described incorrectly. In the above, wherein Sayyidina Abu 'Ubayd Radiyallahu'Anhu said that a goat only has two dhiraa (side portions), which was the reason for not getting the opportunity to serve other dhiraa.

According to Mulla 'Ali Qaari, miracles, karamahs, abnormal happenings will only take place when there is complete fanaa and because of the answer of Sayyidina Abu 'Ubayd Radiyallahu 'Anhu, the full attention of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam did not remain. 'Allaamah Munaawi says that in reality this is a gift from Allab Ta'aala. If he should have faithfully, without question fulfilled the request of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam, it would have remained. But he raised a question which was not appropriate to the situation, therefore the gift terminated.