Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
1. Entertaining and Hosting guests is a mubaarak Sunnah of our Beloved Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Therefore, one should treat his guest with honour and respect.
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فليكرم ضيفه (صحيح البخاري، الرقم: 6138)
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “The one who believes in Allah Ta’ala and the last day (the day of Qiyaamah) should honour his guest.”
In another Hadith, Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) mentioned that entertaining and hosting guests is a means of entering Jannah.
عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من أقام الصلاة وآتى الزكاة وحج البيت وصام رمضان وقرى الضيف دخل الجنة رواه الطبراني في الكبير وله شواهد (الترغيب والترهيب، الرقم: 1116، المعجم الكبير للطبراني، الرقم: 12692)
Hazrat ibnu Abbaas (radhiyallahu anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Whoever establishes salaah, discharges zakaah, performs Hajj, fasts in the month of Ramadhaan and honours his guest will enter Jannah.”
In one Hadith, Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) 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 the guest enters (your home), he brings his own sustenance (with him that was destined for him by Allah Ta’ala, but he consumes it in your home), and when he leaves, the family that hosted him are forgiven by Allah Ta’ala.” (Shamaail-e-Kubra pg. 147; Ma’rifatus Sahaabah li Abi Nuaym #1723)
2. Entertaining and hosting guests is a means of attaining great barakah (blessings) from Allah Ta’ala. The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) would uphold this mubaarak Sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) in their lives by inviting their family, friends, the poor of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) and even travellers to their homes.
عن ابن عباس، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: الخير أسرع إلى البيت الذي يؤكل فيه من الشفرة إلى سنام البعير (سنن ابن ماجة، الرقم: 3357)
Hazrat ibnu Abbaas (radhiyallahu anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Goodness and blessings enter the home where people are fed (as guests) quicker than the knife reaches the camel hump (which is the first part of the meat which people cut and enjoy after the animal is cooked or braaied).”
Acquiring the Pleasure of Allah Ta’ala Through Feeding the Guest
It is reported that a visitor once came to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and expressed his hunger to him. Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) sent someone to all the homes of his respected wives to enquire if there was anything to eat. He was informed that besides water, there was nothing to feed this traveller. Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) then addressed the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) and asked, “Who among you will take this person home tonight and feed him as his guest?”
An Ansaari Sahaabi, by the name of Hazrat Abu Talhah (radiyallahu anhu), agreed to take him home and keep him for the night. He took the traveller home and told his wife, Hazrat Ummu Sulaim (radiyallahu anha), “This is the guest of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Ensure that you do not hold anything back in being hospitable to him.”
She looked at him and said, “By the qasm of Allah, besides a little food which I have kept for the children, there is nothing else that I have.” The Sahaabi said to her, “Put the children off to sleep and present to the guest whatever food you have. Extinguish the lamp (while pretending to adjust it).” (So that in the darkness, the guest may eat to his fill and not be aware that the host is not eating anything with him). Thus, the husband, wife and children spent the night hungry whilst the guest ate to his fill.
Allah Ta’ala loved this action and was pleased with it so much that He revealed the following verse in the Quraan Majeed,
وَيُؤْثِرُوْنَ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ
“They give preference to others over themselves even though they undergo hunger.” (Surah Hashar: 9)
(Saheeh Bukhaari #3798, #4889, Saheeh Muslim #2054)
3. Generosity and feeding the creation was a salient quality and attribute of all the previous Ambiyaa. It is reported in the Hadith that the first Nabi to host a guest was Hazrat Nabi Ebrahim (alayhis salaam). In many places in the Quraan Majeed, Allah Ta’ala praises Hazrat Nabi Ebrahim (alayhis salaam) and Allah Ta’ala also informs us of his great quality of hospitality and feeding the guests.
Hazrat Nabi Ebrahim (alayhis salaam) would not like to eat alone, without a guest sharing his meal with him. At times, he would walk great distances to search for a guest to join him for meals. (Ihyaa uloomid Deen 2/12)
Being Honoured with the Title “Khaleelullah”
It was the blessed habit of Hazrat Nabi Ebrahim (alayhis salaam) that he would always bring people home as his guests to share his meals with him. On one occasion, Hazrat Nabi Ebrahim (alayhis salaam) went out, looking for someone to bring home as his guest. However, he was unable to find anyone to share his meal with him, and thus returned home.
On arriving at his home, he found that a man had entered in his absence and was standing inside. Hazrat Nabi Ebrahim (alayhis salaam) asked him, “O servant of Allah! Why have you entered my home without permission?” The man replied, “I was granted permission to enter by the One who is the true owner of your home (i.e. I was given permission by Allah Ta’ala).”
Hearing this, Hazrat Nabi Ebrahim (alayhis salaam) asked the man, “Who are you?” He responded, “I am the Angel of Death. My Rabb has sent me to one of His servants to give him the glad tidings that Allah Ta’ala has chosen him to be His ‘Khaleel’ (special friend).”
Hazrat Nabi Ebrahim (alayhis salaam) asked, “Who is this special person? By Allah, if you inform me of his identity, I will ensure that I go to him – even if he lives in the most distant of lands. I will then remain with him until death separates us.” The Angel of Death then said, “You are that special servant.”
Hazrat Nabi Ebrahim (alayhis salaam) was overcome by joy and asked, “Am I really that special person?” When the Angel confirmed that he was, Hazrat Nabi Ebrahim (alayhis salaam) enquired, “Why did Allah Ta’ala make me His Khaleel?” The Angel answered, “The reason is that you always give to people (feed the creation and host them as guests), and you never ask people for anything.” (Tafseer ibnu Katheer 2/375)
The Great Hospitality of Hazrat Nabi Shuaib (alayhis salaam)
After Hazrat Nabi Moosa (alayhis salaam) fled from Egypt, on receiving the news that Fir‘aun planned to execute him, he came to the land of Madyan which was the area of Hazrat Nabi Shuaib (alayhis salaam). He had travelled by foot with no provisions for the journey. On arriving in Madyan, Hazrat Nabi Moosa (alayhis salaam) came to a well where he observed many shepherds drawing water and giving it to their flocks to drink.
However, Hazrat Nabi Moosa (alayhis salaam) also noticed two young women standing apart from the crowd. These young women were the respected daughters of Hazrat Nabi Shuaib (alayhis salaam). They had a flock of animals with them which they were restraining and preventing from going forward and mixing with the other animals.
On seeing the two young women in this condition, Hazrat Nabi Moosa (alayhis salaam) asked them, “What is your matter (i.e. why are you not allowing your flock to drink as the others are doing)?” The two women explained that they were waiting for the shepherds to finish giving water to their animals and leave the well so that they could go forward and give water to their own animals. They further explained the reason for them carrying out this task of bringing the animals to the well by saying, “And our father is an extremely old man.”
Hazrat Nabi Moosa (alayhis salaam) then assisted the two women by drawing water from the well and giving it to their animals to drink.
Thereafter, when the two young women returned home, their father was surprised as they had returned earlier than normal. Hence, he asked them the reason for their early return, to which they mentioned the man who had assisted them. Hazrat Nabi Shuaib (alayhis salaam) then sent one of his daughters to invite Hazrat Nabi Moosa (alayhis salaam) to his home so that he could repay him for the kindness he had shown them.
When Hazrat Nabi Moosa (alayhis salaam) arrived at the home of Hazrat Nabi Shuaib (alayhis salaam), supper had just been prepared at that time. Hazrat Nabi Shuaib (alayhis salaam) thus told Hazrat Moosa (alayhis salaam) to partake of the food. However, Hazrat Moosa (alayhis salaam) refused the offer saying, “I seek refuge in Allah Ta’ala.”
Hazrat Nabi Shuaib (alayhis salaam) enquired, “Why will you not eat? Are you not hungry?” Hazrat Nabi Moosa (alayhis salaam) replied, “Certainly (I am hungry), however I fear that this will be a compensation for drawing water for them (i.e. the two girls), and I come from such a household that does not sell any action of the Hereafter (even) in exchange of the entire world full of gold.”
Hazrat Nabi Shuaib (alayhis salaam) responded saying, “By the qasm of Allah, this is not the reason (i.e. I am not inviting and feeding you to repay you). Rather, showing hospitality to guests and feeding others has always been my habit and the habit of my forefathers.” Hazrat Nabi Moosa (alayhis salaam) thus accepted the invitation and partook of the meal.
Ad Durrul Manthoor 6/407, Ma‘aariful Quraan 6/626
