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Guests in a Muslim home is a means of attaining great barakah (blessings).
We should make a habit of inviting travellers, family members, friends and especially the ‘Ulama and pious to eat at our homes. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) advised us saying: “The pious should eat of your food.” (Saheeh Ibni Hibbaan #554) The nutrition that a pious person will receive from the food which he has eaten at our home will aid him in the ‘ibaadah (worship) of Allah Ta‘ala. As long as that nourishment is in his body, then we will also receive the rewards for this ‘ibaadah.
It is well known regarding Sayyiduna Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) that he would only eat if he had a guest to share his meal. Sometimes he would walk great distances in search of someone to join him in his meal.
A Gift from the side of Allah Ta‘ala
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has said: “Whenever Allah Ta‘ala intends good for a person, he sends a gift to him.” The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) asked: “What is this gift?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) explained: “The gift comes in the form of a guest. When he comes, he brings his own sustenance (which was destined for him) and when he leaves, the family that hosted him are forgiven by Allah Ta‘ala.” (Abush Shaikh – Al-Maqaasidul Hasanah pg. 59). Thus in actual fact, the guest is doing the host a favour by coming to his home, though it apparently seems that the host has done a favour to the guest.
An Amazing Incident of Hospitality
Once a visitor came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) expressing his hunger to him. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) sent a message to the homes of all his respected wives enquiring if there was anything to eat. All of them replied that they had nothing besides water. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then announced: “Who would volunteer to host this guest for the night? Allah Ta‘ala will shower His mercy on him.” One Ansaari Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) agreed to keep him for the night. He went home and asked his wife: “Do you have any food.” She said: “Besides a little food which I have kept for the children, there is nothing else that I have.” He said to her: “Put the children off to sleep and when the visitor enters present to him whatever food you have. Extinguish the lamp and pretend as if we are also eating (so that in the darkness he may eat to his fill and not know that we are not eating).” Thus they spent the night hungry whilst the visitor ate to his fill. The next day, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said to him: “Allah Ta‘ala was greatly pleased at the way you treated your guest last night.” Allah Ta‘ala loved this so greatly that an aayat of the Quraan Majeed was revealed: “They give preference to others over themselves even though they undergo hunger.” (Saheeh Muslim #5359 & 5360)
Some important etiquettes for the host are:
1. Treat your guest with honour and respect.
2. Personally serve your guest (keeping within the laws of hijaab).
3. Don’t spend too much time and wealth in preparing lavish meals for visitors. Present the best that is easily available and be simple. In this manner, one will be able to maintain this blessed sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
4. Abstain from unnecessary formalities as this takes away the barakah (blessings) from the food.
5. Present the food quickly. Don’t delay as often happens in weddings and waleemahs nowadays.
6. Ensure that the guest is provided with what he/she prefers to eat.
7. Eat with the guest as the guest may feel shy to eat alone.
8. Check that the serving utensils are refilled in time so that the guest does not feel the food is finished. Refill the utensils without removing them (i.e. bring the food in another utensil).
9. Accompany the guest to the door of the house when he/she leaves.
May Allah Ta‘ala bless us all with the ability of opening our hearts and being hospitable towards the guests that visit our homes, aameen.
