Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), The Hospitable

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) The Hospitable Ali Zohery, Ph.D. Hospitality was another key value in the speeches of Muhammad. Being hospitable to your neighbor was another way of showing love and kindness. He stated clearly that: He who believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his guests. Provisions for the road are whatever will serve for a day and a night; hospitality extends for three days; what goes beyond that is charity; and it is not allowable that a guest should stay until he makes himself a burden. (Bukhari, 6019) Hospitality then was not to be abused by the person receiving it. If the person receiving hospitality becomes a burden then it goes beyond his ideals. It was to be mutually compromising by the two parties. As corroborated by the following quotes: “If you come to people who order for you what is fitting for a guest, accept it; but if they do not, take from them what is fitting for them to give to a guest” (Bukhari). A companion asked the Prophet, “messenger of Allah, tell me: if I come to a man who does not entertain me or show hospitality and he afterwards comes to me, should I entertain him or treat him as he treated me?” The Prophet said: “Entertain him”. (Tirmidhi, 2006) He also emphasized the idea of sharing with one another. People should eat together because there is more blessing in eating together than trying to eat separately (lbn Majah). He then stated that “Good comes more quickly to the house in which food is provided (to the guests) than the knife comes to the camels’ hump’’ (Ibn Majah). “When one of you is invited to a meal, he must accept it. If he wishes, he may eat, but if he wishes he may leave the food alone” (Muslim). “If anyone rejects an invitation, he has disobeyed Allah and His Messenger” (Bukhari). The Prophet forbade people to accept the food of those who invite people for self—glory and ostentation (Abu Dawud). “When one of you visits his brother Muslim, he should eat his food without asking questions. Eating the food of your brother is a sign of love and sincerity in your dealings with him.

Examples from the Prophet’s Practice A man prepared some food especially for the Prophet and also invited four other persons with him. But an extra person who had not been invited also joined them. On arriving at the door of the host’s house, the Prophet said to the host: “This man has accompanied us. If you like, he will join us, otherwise he will go back.” The host replied: “O Messenger of Allah. I invite him.’’ (Bukhari). “He who serves drinks should himself be the last person to drink’’. (Tirmidhi) This was a kind gesture that is closely link with mercy that forms the next part of our analysis.