Sunnats and Aadaab of the Host – 2

4. In the mubaarak Ahaadith, Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) advised the ummah as to which type of people one should invite to one’s home. Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said:

عن أبي سعيد، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال: لا تصاحب إلا مؤمنا، ولا يأكل طعامك إلا تقي (سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 2395)

Hazrat Abu Sa’eed (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Do not take anyone as a companion and friend besides a mu’min, and none should eat of your food except the pious (i.e. one should invite pious people to his home as his guests).”

In many Ahaadith, Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) has encouraged the ummah to show kindness and compassion to all the creation. Hence, one should show mercy to Muslims and non-Muslims and even the animals by feeding them and removing their hunger.

However, in this Hadith, Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) has guided the ummah in regard to which type of people one should call to his home and entertain as his guest.

Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) advised that one should only call pious people to one’s home. The reason is that when one invites people to one’s home, then one is associating with them and showing them a special type of honour. Hence, it is imperative for one to choose the right type of people to one’s home so that goodness enters one’s home.

If one calls evil people to one’s home and entertains them as guests, then it is possible that evil will enter his home. Therefore, we are taught that we should take people of piety and righteousness as guests to our home so that goodness enters our home.

Furthermore, the food which the host feeds the pious person will be a means of creating nutrition in his body and this will aid the pious person to carry out ibaadah (worship) for Allah Ta’ala. As long as that nourishment remains in his body and he worships Allah Ta’ala, the host will continue to receive reward for all the ibaadah which the pious person carries out for Allah Ta’ala.

5. When the guest enters the home of the host, the host should welcome him and receive him with honour and dignity.

عن علي قال: جاء عمار يستأذن على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: ائذنوا له مرحبا بالطيب المطيب (سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 3798)

Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Hazrat Ammaar bin Yaasir (radhiyallahu anhu) once came seeking permission to enter upon Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Permit him (to enter). Welcome to the pure one, the one who has been granted special purity.”

عن عكرمة بن أبي جهل، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يوم جئته: مرحبا بالراكب المهاجر مرحبا بالراكب المهاجر قلت: يا رسول الله، لا أدع نفقة أنفقها عليك إلا أنفقت مثلها في سبيل الله (المعجم الكبير للطبراني، الرقم: 1022)

Hazrat Ikrimah bin Abi Jahl (radhiyallahu anhu) reports, “Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) mentioned to me on the day I came (to him) as a muhaajir, ‘Welcome to the riding muhaajir, welcome to the riding muhaajir!’ I then said, “O Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)! Whatever I had spent (prior to accepting Islam) against you, I will spend the equivalent of it in the path of Allah Ta’ala (as a compensation for my wrongs).”

وعن أنس بن مالك قال: شق على الأنصار النواضح، فاجتمعوا عند النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يسألونه أن يكري لهم نهرا سيحا، فقال لهم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : مرحبا بالأنصار، مرحبا بالأنصار، والله لا تسألوني اليوم شيئا إلا أعطيتكموه، ولا أسأل الله لكم شيئا إلا أعطانيه. فقال بعضهم لبعض: اغتنموها وسلوه المغفرة، قالوا: يا رسول الله، ادع لنا بالمغفرة، فقال: اللهم اغفر للأنصار، ولأبناء الأنصار، ولأبناء أبناء الأنصار. وفي رواية: ولأزواج الأنصار. رواه أحمد والبزار بنحوه وقال: مرحبا بالأنصار ثلاثا.  (مجمع الزوائد، الرقم: 16528)

Hazrat Anas (radhiyallahu anhu) reports: Transporting water on the animals (from the wells to the farms) had become difficult upon the Ansaar. Therefore, they had come together to ask Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) (to ask Allah Ta’ala) to cause rivers to flow for them (to make irrigation easy). Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said to them, “Welcome to the Ansaar, welcome to the Ansaar! By the qasm of Allah, whatever you ask me today, I will give it to you, and whatever I ask Allah Ta’ala on your behalf, He will grant it to you.”

Therefore, they spoke among themselves saying, “Make the most of this moment, and ask for forgiveness.” They then said, “O Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam! Make dua for our forgiveness.” Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) made dua for them saying, “O Allah! Forgive the Ansaar, the children of the Ansaar, the grandchildren of the Ansaar, and (according to another narration), the wives of the Ansaar!”

عن عائشة رضي الله عنها، قالت: أقبلت فاطمة تمشي كأن مشيتها مشي النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: مرحبا بابنتي ثم أجلسها عن يمينه أو عن شماله (صحيح البخاري، الرقم: 3623)

Hazrat Aishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) reports that on one occasion, Hazrat Faatimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) came walking (to visit Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)), and it was as though her walk was identical to the walk of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). (On seeing her,) Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) addressed her saying, “Welcome, O my daughter!” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then made her sit (beside him), either on his right side or on his left side.