“The blessing lies in three things: in the jamā‘ah (congregation), in tharīd (a dish of bread and meat broth), and in the suḥūr (pre-dawn meal).”

Narrated by al-Ṭabarānī in al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr (no. 6127) and al-Bayhaqī in Shuʿab al-Īmān (no. 7114), from the ḥadīth of Salmān — may Allah be pleased with him.
Authenticated in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ (no. 2882) and Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb wa al-Tarhīb (no. 1065).

Brief Explanation of the Hadith

The Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — explicitly mentioned that barakah (blessing) is found in three things. Linguistically, barakah means increase and growth; however, when mentioned in the texts of the Sharī‘ah, it refers to the preservation of one’s religion, the lightness of one’s reckoning, and abundant growth and reward in the Hereafter.
In this ḥadīth, the Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — informs us that barakah (blessing) is realized in three matters:
The first is “in the congregation”, meaning in congregational prayer, in adhering to the community of Muslims, and in uniting upon what benefits them — including gathering together for food. Among the blessings of unity are the attainment of strength, cohesion, and mutual compassion among people, expansion of sustenance, sufficiency in livelihood, and many other forms of goodness.
The second is “in the tharīd” — a dish made of crumbled bread mixed with meat broth, sometimes containing pieces of meat itself. Its blessing lies in the fact that it is a wholesome food: easy to swallow, quick to satisfy hunger, pleasant in taste, easy to consume, and sufficient to nourish the hungry and strengthen the body.
Third: “In Suḥūr” — It may be pronounced with either an open sīn (sáḥur), referring to the food or drink taken before dawn, or with a closed sīn (suḥūr), referring to the act itself. Taking suḥūr is a Sunnah, as it was practiced and encouraged by the Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — due to the blessings it contains.
Among its blessings are: that it strengthens one for fasting, eases its hardship, invigorates the soul, and inspires eagerness for further acts of obedience. It also entails following the Sunnah, differing from the People of the Book, and seizing the blessed time of as-saḥar (the pre-dawn hours), and many other forms of goodness and virtue.
The intent of this ḥadīth is not to restrict barakah (blessing) to these three matters, for the blessings of Allah are vast and all-encompassing. Rather, these were mentioned specifically because the effects of blessing are clearly manifested in them and their benefits to people are great.
Gathering together fosters harmony and cooperation; tharīd exemplifies nourishment combined with ease and benefit; and suḥūr serves as aid and strength for obedience. Thus, their mention is a reminder of others like them and an indication that blessing accompanies everything that contains benefit, goodness, and unity upon righteousness.