CHAPTER TWO: GUESTS AND HOSTS – PART 2
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to sit with his guests and laugh with them:
Thawbaan, the freed slave of the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that a guest from the Bedouins came to us, so the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sat with him in front of his houses. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, started asking the man about the people’s happiness with Islam and the prayer. The man continued to give the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, good news until I saw the Prophet’s face glowing. Then when midday approached and it was time to eat, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, called me over and quietly told me: “Go to the house of ‘Aa’ishah and tell her the Prophet of Allah has a guest.” She said: “By the one who sent you with the guidance and true religion, we do not have anything in our home for someone to eat.” He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then sent me back to his other wives, and they all said as ‘Aa’ishah said: until I saw the face of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, turn gloomy.
The Bedouin man was intelligent, so he realized what was happening and said to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, “We, the people of the desert, are used to difficult times, not like the people of the cities. One of us is sufficed by a few dates and a small drink of milk, and that is the best meal for us.” When he said that, a goat called “Thamraa” that was already milked passed by. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, called it by its name, saying: “Thamraa, Thamraa” so it came to him making a sound. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, took it by its leg and wiped its udder, saying: “In the name of Allah.” Its udder filled up with milk, and he called for a container so I brought one to him. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, started milking it and said: “In the name of Allah,” and he filled it up. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then said: “Pass it to him in the name of Allah.”
I gave the milk to the guest and he drank a large amount, and he wanted to put it down. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, told him: “Drink again,” so he drank again until he wanted to put it down. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, told him: “Drink again,” until he became full. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then milked it again and said: “In the name of Allah” and filled it up, then he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Send this to ‘Aa’ishah and she may
drink as much as she wants.”
I came back to him, so he milked the goat again and said: “In the name of Allah,” and filled it up, and he sent me to all of his wives. Every time one of them drank he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would send me to the next one, saying: “In the Name of Allah.” He did this until they all sent it back, and I came back to him. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Give it to me” so I gave it to him and he drank what Allah willed for him to drink. Then he gave it to me and I drank from it a drink that was sweeter than honey, and more fragrant than musk. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam, then said: “O Allah, bless the owners regarding it (i.e. the goat).” (Reported by Al-Aajurri in his book Ash-Sharee’ah (1048).)
If the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not find any food for his guest, he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would send him to one of his Companions to host him:
Abu Hurayrah said: that a man came to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said: “O Messenger of Allah, poverty has struck me.” The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sent a messenger to one of his wives (to bring something for that man to eat) but she said: “By the One who sent you with the truth, I only have water.” He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sent to another one of his wives (to bring something for that man to eat), but she said the same, until all of them said the same thing.
Then Allah’s Messenger, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Who will take this one as a guest in exchange for Allah’s Mercy?” A man from the Ansaar said: “I will, O Messenger of Allah.” So he took the man to his home, and said to his wife, “Treat the guest of the Messenger of Allah well.” She said: “By Allah! We have nothing except the meal for my children.” He said: “Get the food ready, and light the lamp, and put your children to sleep if they ask for dinner. Then when the guest enters, dim the lamp, and make it seem as if we are eating, and when he reaches for the food to eat, then stand up to the lantern and turn it off.” She got the food ready, turned the lamp on, and put the children to sleep. She then went to the lamp as if she was fixing it, and turned it off. Then they pretended that they were eating and they both went to sleep hungry. In the morning, the man from the Ansaar went to Allah’s Messenger, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, who said: “Allah has laughed [implying His acceptance to the deed], from your actions last night.” Then Allah revealed His saying (which means): «And they gave them preference over themselves even though they were in need of that.»
[Quran: 59:9] (Reported by Al-Bukhari (3798) and Muslim (2054).)
An-Nawawi said: “This narration shows the asceticism of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and his family, and how they had patience with their hunger and poverty. It also shows that the leader of a people should be the first one to host a guest himself, and spend whatever he can from his wealth. Then he may seek the help from his companions as a way of cooperating in good deeds. It also shows the virtue of helping one another in times of hardship, and the virtue of this companion from the Ansaar and his wife.” (The explanation of An-Nawawi on the book of Muslim (12/14).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would honor his guest even if he was a disbeliever:
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, hosted a non-Muslim, so the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered for a sheep to be milked and the man drank the milk. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then milked another one, and the man drank, until he drank the milk of seven sheep. Then the man woke up in the morning and became a Muslim. (Reported by Al-Bukhari (5397) and Muslim (2063).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to serve his guests:
Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah (a Companion) narrated that he called the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, on the day of the battle of the Trench and said to him, “O Messenger of Allah, I have a small amount of food. So come with me, along with one or two people.” The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, asked: “How much [food] is it?” I told him how much it was, so he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “It is good and plenty.” He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then said: “Stand up!” So all of the Muhajiroun (Emigrants of Makkah) and Ansaar (residents of Madinah) stood up.
When Jaabir went to his wife he said: “The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is coming with the Muhaajiroon and Ansaar and all of those with them!” She said: “Didn’t he ask you?” He replied: “Yes.”
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Enter and do not crowd.” He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then began to break the bread and put meat on it and then serve it to his Companions. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, continued to do that until everyone was full, and there was some left over. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to my wife: “Eat from this, and give it as a gift to others, for the people have been afflicted with hunger.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (4101) and Muslim (2039).)
The guests from the Muhaajiroon and Ansaar were actually the guests of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, even if they were in the house of Jaabir. This is because increasing the food was a miracle of the Prophet of Allah, and the original food that Jaabir had was only sufficient for a few people, but Allah made it sufficient for all the people by the blessing of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. The way the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, served them with his own hands was an example of the hospitality of the Prophet of Allah, even though it was at the home of Jaabir.
By Muhammad Saalih Al-Munajjid
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