Gourd - The Sweet Sunnah

Hadrat Sayyiduna Anas (Radi Allahu Anhu) said, I went along with the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) to the house of a young tailor of his. The tailor presented a dish of Tharid (Arabic dish made with curry in it) to the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and resumed his work. The Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) started picking the pieces of gourd and I too, started picking them and putting it before him. Since then I have always loved (to eat) gourd.

[Sahih Bukhari, Kitab al At'amah, Vol. 3, Page 537, Hadith 5436]

Once Imam Abu Yusuf (Alayhir Rahmah) was relating the Hadith that the Holy Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) used to like ‘bottle gourd’. Suddenly the words, "But I don't like it," escaped from a man's tongue. Imam Abu Yusuf (Alayhir Rahmah) was so much infuriated that he drew out his sword and said:

"I relate a Hadith and vis-à-vis you say that you don't like it. Repent for it right away, otherwise I will behead you".

Accordingly, he immediately repented and the Imam spared his life, and this was although the man had spoken only casually and did not mean any ridicule or denial. But since it was apparently a contradiction of the apostolic Sunnah, Imam Abu Yusuf (Alayhir Rahmah) dealt with him like manner.

a. Mirqat Sharah Mishkat, Vol. 2, Page 77
b. Sharha Shifa, Section 2, Chapter 2, Vol. 2, Page 51
c. Seerat e Mustafa, Page 835
d. Mira'at, Sharh Mishkat, Page 367, Hadith 307