Is it preferable for a traveler to eat alone or in company?

Primary text

It is preferable for a traveler to eat in company rather than alone. Companionship is more comfortable and facilitates mutual assistance; being alone makes tasks like cooking difficult. This practice is acceptable, as pious predecessors engaged in it. Al-Hasan used to pool resources with his traveling companions. The practice of 'nahd' involves each companion contributing funds to one person who manages the expenses for the group, and they all eat together. Al-Hasan al-Basri would give his portion to their agent and secretly give the agent the same amount again.