Mu’alla Ibn Khunais narrates: “One rainy night Imam Sadiq (a.s) started out from his house with the intention of proceeding towards the tent of the tribe of Bani Sai’dah (under which they used to gather in the heat of the day, while it would be utilized as a sleeping place by the travelers and the indigent ones, during the night).
I followed the Imam (a.s) when I noticed that something had suddenly fallen out of his hands. He (a.s) supplicated: “O’ Allah! Return to me that which has fallen.” I advanced nearer and saluted him at which he questioned: “Mu’alla?” I said: “Yes. May I be made your ransom!” The Imam (a.s) said to me: “Move your hand over the ground and hand over to me whatever you happen to find.”
As I moved my hand over the ground I found some pieces of bread scattered around; gathering them all, which eventually became a sack-full, I handed them to him (a.s) and said: “May I be made your ransom. Allow me to carry the sack upon my back.” He (a.s) said: “No. I am more deserving of carrying the sack, but yes, I do permit you to accompany me.”
Thus, together with the Imam (a.s), I reached the tent of Bani Sai’dah, where a group of poor people lay asleep. The Imam (a.s) began placing one or two pieces of bread below their garments till all the pieces of bread were used up.
As we turned back, I said to him: “May I be made your ransom! Are they Shiites?” The Imam (a.s) replied:
لَو عَرَفُوه لَوَاسَينَاهُم بِالدُّقًّةِ
“Had they been Shiites, I would have provided them with all that they needed – even their salt.” ( Muntahal A’mal, vol. 2, pg. 127 )