(rahmatullah alayh)
Hadhrat Rabee’ Bin Khaitham (rahmatullah alayh) was a renowned Taabi-ee. (A Taabi-ee is a Muslim who had enjoyed the company of the Sahaabah).
Once when he was bedridden with severe illness, he developed an intense desire to eat chicken. He suppressed his desire for 40 days. After 40 days when the desire remained intense, he informed his wife. After preparing the chicken dish she presented it to Hadhrat Rabee’.
As he was about to begin eating the chicken, a beggar appeared at the door and asked for some food. Hadhrat Rabee’ (rahmatullah alayh) without even having tasted it, instructed his wife to give the whole chicken to the beggar. She remonstrated with him and said that he should eat the chicken. She would give the beggar something better and more useful than the chicken. When he asked her what that was, she said that she would give the beggar the value of the chicken in cash. The beggar will be happier with the money.
Hadhrat Rabee’ said: “Bring the money to me.” When she brought the money, he told her: “Now give this chicken as well as the money to the beggar.” She complied. He ‘deprived’ himself of the chicken and neutralized the desire of his nafs by giving both the chicken and the money to the beggar. This was the way in which our illustrious predecessors trained and adorned their nafs with Taqwa.
