CHAPTER TWO: GUESTS AND HOSTS – PART 1
The conduct of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, with guests and hosts
Introduction:
The true concept of hospitality is not something that is widely practiced by many people nowadays. For many people, the entertainment of guests is of primary importance in many cases for worldly reasons only, not rooted in real hospitality for the sake of Allah.
In Islam, however, hospitality is a great virtue that holds a significant purpose. Being hospitable to guests can increase societal ties as well as unite an entire community. Most importantly, Allah commands Muslims to be hospitable to guests. There is a great reward in doing so. Hospitality in Islam is multi-faceted and covers many different areas in addition to the hospitality that we show guests who visit our homes.
This is clearly manifested in many Islamic texts such as the saying of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, which was narrated by Abu Hurayrah when he said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his guest.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (6018) and Muslim (47).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, as a host:
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was the most generous of all people and he would give abundantly, especially during the seasons of virtue. Ibn ‘Abbas narrated: “The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was the most generous of all people in giving, and the most generous he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would be in the month of Ramadan. The angel Gabriel used to come to him every year in Ramadan until it was over, and he would review the Quran with the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. So when the angel Gabriel met him he would be more generous than a wind (that continuously and strongly blows, indicating his speed and generosity in spending).”(Reported by Al-Bukhari (6) and Muslim (2308).)
Anas ibn Maalik narrated: “The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was the best of people, the most generous of people, and the bravest of people.”(Reported by Al-Bukhari (2820) and Muslim (2307).)
Ibn Hibbaan (a scholar) said: “From the most specific aspects of generosity is to treat guests well. The Arabs only considered generosity to be honoring a guest and feeding others, and whoever did not have these characteristics was not considered generous. This was to the extent that some of them would travel a mile or two looking for a guest.” (Rawdhat Al-’Uqala’ (page 259).)
The Mother of the Believers, Khadeejah (the wife of the Prophet) was the most knowledgeable of all people regarding the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and she described him with these words: “By Allah, you keep the ties of kinship, are truthful, support the incapable person (such as the weak, children) give to the poor, honor the guests, and help (others) during calamities.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (4) and Muslim (160).)
She mentioned from his attributes “honoring the guest.” The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was the best at treating his guests and delegations well. The good conduct of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, showed whether he was the one receiving guests, or he was being invited.
Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah (a Companion) narrated: “The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was never asked anything and said: No.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (6034) and Muslim (2311).)
An-Nawawi (a scholar) said: “This means that he was never asked for a worldly thing and answered: “No,” which shows the greatness of his generosity.” (The explanation of An-Nawawi on the book of Muslim (71/5).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, informed that Allah is Generous and loves generosity:
Sahl ibn Sa’d (a Companion) narrated that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Indeed, Allah is Generous and loves generosity, and He loves noble manners and hates lowly manners.”(Reported by Al-Haakim (152) in his book Al-Mustadrak.) That is why ‘Amr ibn Al-Haarith (a Companion) said: “The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not leave at his death any wealth or male or female slave, he left nothing except for his white mule, his weapons, and some land that he gave in charity.”(Reported by Al-Bukhari (2739).) The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, at the time of his death had left his armor with a Jew as security in exchange for 30 Saa’ (handfuls) of grain. (Reported by Al-Bukhari (2916) and Muslim (1603) on the authority of ‘Aa’ishah.)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, made honoring the guest a sign of faith:
Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his guest.”(Reported by Al-Bukhari (6018) and Muslim (47) on the authority of Abu Hurayrah.) To honor him means to greet him with a smiling face, to give him food promptly, provide a place to stay and to serve him personally.
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, praised the one who honors his guest, and said that he is from the best of people.
Ibn ‘Abbas narrated that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, delivered a sermon in Tabook and said: “There is no one like a man who takes the reins of his horse and fights in the path of Allah, and avoids the evil of people. And there is no one like a Bedouin man with his sheep, who gives food and shelter to his guests, and fulfills his rights.” (Reported by Ahmad (1988).)
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, explained that hosting the guest is a right upon every Muslim. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “The one night [stay] of a guest is a right upon every Muslim. So any guest or stranger that comes to someone’s yard, then he [the stranger] is a debt upon him [the owner of the home], if he [the guest] wishes he may take his right, or if he wishes he may leave it.” (Reported by Abu Dawood (3750) and Ibn Maajah (3677).)
Al-’Atheem Abaadi (a scholar) said: “Al-Khattaabi (a scholar) said: “Giving food and lodging to the guest and honoring him is from the attributes of the noble people and the habits of the righteous. Whoever withholds from hosting a guest or stranger is blameworthy.” (Awn Al-Ma’bud (154/10).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to ‘Uthmaan ibn Math’oon (a Companion): “Your guest has a right upon you.” (Reported by Abu Dawood (1369) on the authority of ‘Aa’ishah.)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, explained the limits of hosting a guest:
Abu Shurayh (a Companion) narrated that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his neighbor with what he should be given.” They said: “What is that, O Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam?” He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: “His day and night, and hosting a guest is for three days, anything after that is charity upon him. It is not permissible for a Muslim man to stay with his brother until he makes him sinful.” They asked: “O Messenger of Allah, how does he make him sinful?” He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “To stay with his host when he does not have anything to provide him with.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (6019) and Muslim (48).)
This shows that the guest or stranger has rights upon the person he stays with, and they are three levels: the obligatory right, the praiseworthy deed, and charity. The obligatory right is the night and day, the praiseworthy deed is three days, and anything above that is considered charity.
The “guest” that it is obligatory to provide with food and lodging and has a right over his host, is one who is a traveler from a different town or country. As for a visitor from the same town, there is no doubt that treating him well and feeding him falls under the general order to feed others and treat them well. However, he is not the guest that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, obligated honoring.
It is not permissible to be a burden upon the host by staying with him more than three days, for the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “It is not permissible for him to stay with him until he causes hardship upon him.” (Reported by Al-Bukhaari (6135) on the authority of Abu Shurayh.) Meaning it is not permissible for the guest to stay at a person’s home after three days, unless the owner of the home asks him to stay.
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, showed generosity even in times of hunger and hardship:
Al-Miqdaad ibn ‘Amr (a Companion) said:
“A friend and I were almost going to go deaf and blind from sheer hunger, so we began to approach people but no one hosted us (since those whom they approached were poor themselves). We came to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said: “O Messenger of Allah, we are extremely hungry, and we have approached people but no one has hosted us, so we came to you.” So the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, brought us to his home, and there were three goats. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Milk them and share it among us.” We milked them and each of us would drink his portion and we would give the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, his portion. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would then come at night and greet in a voice that would not wake a sleeping person, but one who was awake would hear. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would then go to the mosque to pray, and then come to the milk and drink from it. Satan came to me one night after I drank my portion, and said: “Muhammad goes to the Ansaar and they give him food, he does not need this small drink of milk!” So I went and drank it.
When it entered my stomach and I knew that I could not reverse what I had done, Satan made me regret, saying: “Woe to you! What have you done? You have drunk the share of Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, so he will come and not find it and then
supplicate against you, so you will lose out in this life and the next.”
I had a garment on me that if I covered my feet with it, it would not cover my head, and if I covered my head my feet would be exposed, and I was not able to sleep. As for my two companions, they continued sleeping, and they did not do what I did. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, came and greeted as usual, then he went to the mosque and prayed, then he came to his drink and uncovered it but it was empty. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, raised his head to the sky, so I said: “Now he will supplicate against me, so I will be destroyed!” However, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, prayed: “O Allah, feed whoever fed me, and give drink to whoever gave me drink.”
So I covered myself in the garment and took a knife, then I went to the goats to see which one was fattest so I could slaughter it for the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. I found that its udder was filled with milk, and I looked and found that all of their udders were full. So I picked up a container that belonged to the family of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and started milking until it was covered by the froth. Then I came to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and he said to me: “Did you drink your portion tonight?” I said: “O Messenger of Allah, drink.” He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, drank from it and then handed it to me. I again said: “O Messenger of Allah, drink.” So he drank from it and then handed it to me. When I knew that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was full and that I
had achieved his supplication, I laughed until I fell to the ground.
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “One of your bad deeds, O Miqdaad.”(Meaning, you have performed a bad deed, what is it?) I explained what had happened at night. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “This is only a mercy from Allah, why did you not seek my permission so we could wake up our companions and drink from it?” I said: “By the One Who sent you with the truth, it does not matter to me who drinks from it after you and I have drunk.” (Reported by Muslim (2055).)
The meaning of “I laughed until I fell to the ground,” is that he was scared and sad that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would supplicate against him because he drank his portion. When he realized that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was full, and his prayer was answered, he became overjoyed and laughed until he fell to the ground, because his sadness turned to happiness, and because the supplication of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, for the
one who fed him was answered at the hands of Al-Miqdaad. He was also amazed by the miracle he saw, and by the bad deed he committed which ended up as a good deed.
By Muhammad Saalih Al-Munajjid
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