وَحَدَّثَنِي حَجَّاجُ بْنُ الشَّاعِرِ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ سَعِيدِ بْنِ صَخْرٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ مِنْهُمَا قَرِيبٌ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو النُّعْمَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا ثَابِتٌ، - فِي رِوَايَةِ حَجَّاجِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ أَبُو زَيْدٍ الأَحْوَلُ - حَدَّثَنَا عَاصِمٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، عَنْ أَفْلَحَ، مَوْلَى أَبِي أَيُّوبَ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَزَلَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَزَلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي السُّفْلِ وَأَبُو أَيُّوبَ فِي الْعُلْوِ - قَالَ - فَانْتَبَهَ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ لَيْلَةً فَقَالَ نَمْشِي فَوْقَ رَأْسِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . فَتَنَحَّوْا فَبَاتُوا فِي جَانِبٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " السُّفْلُ أَرْفَقُ " . فَقَالَ لاَ أَعْلُو سَقِيفَةً أَنْتَ تَحْتَهَا . فَتَحَوَّلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الْعُلْوِ وَأَبُو أَيُّوبَ فِي السُّفْلِ فَكَانَ يَصْنَعُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم طَعَامًا فَإِذَا جِيءَ بِهِ إِلَيْهِ سَأَلَ عَنْ مَوْضِعِ أَصَابِعِهِ فَيَتَتَبَّعُ مَوْضِعَ أَصَابِعِهِ فَصَنَعَ لَهُ طَعَامًا فِيهِ ثُومٌ فَلَمَّا رُدَّ إِلَيْهِ سَأَلَ عَنْ مَوْضِعِ أَصَابِعِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقِيلَ لَهُ لَمْ يَأْكُلْ . فَفَزِعَ وَصَعِدَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ أَحَرَامٌ هُوَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ وَلَكِنِّي أَكْرَهُهُ " . قَالَ فَإِنِّي أَكْرَهُ مَا تَكْرَهُ أَوْ مَا كَرِهْتَ . قَالَ وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُؤْتَى .
Allah's Messnger (ﷺ) had alighted in his house (viz. of Abu Ayyub Ansari at the time of his emigration to Medina) and he occupied the lower storey, whereas Abu Ayyub Ansari lived in the upper storey. One night, Abu Ayyub Ansari got up and said (to himself): (How unfortunate it is) that we walk above the head of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), so they went aside and spent the night in a nook and then told Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) about it whereupon Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said: The lower storey is more comfortable (for me). but he (Abu Ayyub Ansari) said: We (would not live) over the roof under which you live. So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) shifted to the upper storey, whereas Abu Ayyub Ansari shifted to the lower storey; and he (Abu Ayyub Ansari) used to prepare food for Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) ; and when it was brought (back) to him he asked (to locate) the part, where his fingers had touched (the food), and he followed his fingers on that part where his fingers (those of the Holy Prophet) had touched it. (One day) he prepared food which contained garlic, and when it was returned to him he asked (to locate) the part which the fingers of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) had touched. It was said to him that he had not eaten (the food). He (Abd Ayyub Ansari) was distressed and went up to him (to the Holy Prophet) and said: Is it forbidden? But Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: No, (it is not forbidden), but I do not like it. and he (Abu Ayyub Ansari) said: I also do not like what you do not like or which you did not like. He (Abu Ayyub Ansari) said: (The Prophet did not eat garlic) as Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) was visited (by angels) and brought him the message of Allah.