Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
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)
