Hospitality, guests and sharing a meal is a very important tradition (‘sunnath’) of our Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhe wasallam.
There are so many traditions related to this subject matter that many hadith kithabs devote entire chapters to hospitality and entertainment of guests.
- The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhe wasallam had such a high regard for hospitality that he set the son of Hatim Thai and six hundred of his tribe members free simply on the grounds that his father was well know for his hospitality.
The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhe Wasallam loved to entertain guests. He had a big dish which four men used to carry. He called this dish by the name “Garra” and after the asar prayer this dish used to be brought out with food. His companions used to sit around it with him and eat.” Abu Daud.
Having guests over is also the sunnath of Hazrath Ebrahim (AS). He never ate food alone. Whenever he did not have guests he used to go out searching for someone to join him for a meal.
Sometimes he traveled a distance of two miles looking for guests. He was called Abu Zaifan (father of guests). Once he did not have guests for three successive days and during this period he did not eat. Allah Subhanatallah sent three angels to be his guests so that he would eat.
“There came Our messengers to Abraham with glad tidings. They said “peace”. He answered “peace” and hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf.” 11:69
Allah Subhanatallah has made his mazaar a haven for guests and up till this day his mazaar has food for guests on a daily basis.
The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhe Wasallam equated the merit of a meal with guests to “seri” and “Iftaar”.
Practicing hospitality and having guests over is also a very common and important practice of the Aulia Allah.
The Kankah of Hazrath Khwaja Nizamudeen Aulia Rahmatula Alayhe was popular for it’s “langar” and it still is even up to this day. Once the wazir of the king, told him that the Khankah of Hazrath Khwaja Nizamudeen Aulia (RA) attracts more people than the royal court.
The king got upset and told the wazir to inform the kankah that he was stopping his grant to the Kankah. Before he could deliver the king’s message, Hazrath Khwaja Nizamudeen Aulia (RA) announced that his kankah would no longer serve meals once a day but it would henceforth provide “langar” twice a day.
Without the support of the king’s grant his kankah used to provide meals twice a day.
A Muslim believes that sustenance is from Allah Subhanatallah and every guest brings his own “rizq”.
Once, Abu Hafs was the guest of Shebli (RA). For forty days he ate different dishes and all types of sweets. When he was leaving he told Shibli(RA) to come to his home and he would show him how to treat a guest.
Shibli(RA) asked him if he did something wrong. Abu Hafs (RA) replied: “You took too great pains. Extravagance is not the same as generosity. One should treat a guest exactly as one treats himself. In that way his coming will not be a burden to you, nor will his departure be an occasion of gladness. No man who feels like that towards a guest is truly generous.”
Some time later Shibli(RA) visited Abu Hafs (RA) who had forty guests at that time. Abu Hafs (RA) had lit 41 candles. When Shibli (RA) saw the candles he reminded him about extravagance and Abu Hafs(RA) told him to put out the candles. No matter how hard he tried he could not extinguish them except for one.
When he questioned Abu Hafs (RA), he replied: “You are forty persons, emissaries of Allah, for the guest is an emissary of Allah. Naturally 1 lit a lamp in the name of each one, for the sake of Allah. and one for myself. Those forty which 1 lit for Allah you were unable to put out, but the one lit for myself you extinguished. All that you did when I visited you, you did for me. I did what I did for my guests for Allah’s sake. So what you did for me was extravagance and what I did for you was because I did it for the sake of Allah.” Take note, once again, of how he described his guests — “emissaries or representatives of Allah”.
The hadith teaches us not to be extravagant even when having guests but Abu Hafs (RA) found a way to be extravagant. Not only must we honor our guests but it is also important to accept the invitation of someone else even if they are poor.
The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhe Wasallam has said that the duties of one Muslim to another are five of which “accepting his invitation” is one. Sahih Muslim & Bukhari.
Once the grandson of the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhe Wasallam, Hazrath Imaam Hassan (AS) was riding past some poor people. They invited him to partake of their meal and he joined them to eat stale bread.
Having guests over and accepting invitations are practices that forge good relationships between people and brings them together.
Being generous and generating love and closeness in the ummah is an important part of Islam and the practice of entertaining guests helps to realize this goal.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam has said: “eat together and not separately because blessings are with the company. “
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Peace and Salutations be upon Muhammad Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam.
Published by Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi in 2011
Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi was founded by Dr Hakim Hazrath Khwaja Sayed Shareef Ahmed Ali Shah RA (lovingly known as Hazrath Poona Wale Shah Saab RA)
– Author: Mohammed Hassan Gaffoor (WhatsApp +27849101486)