Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
21. If the husband wishes to invite male guests, then he should be present at home to receive them when they arrive. He should not tell his wife to receive the male guests and seat them before he arrives.
22. The host should design his home in such a way that near the place where the guests will be seated and served meals, there should be a bathroom (i.e. a toilet and wash basin to wash hands).
23. The host should not take any work or service from the guest as this is against noble character. Rather, he should serve him to the best of his ability.
Rajaa bin Haywa (rahimahullah) once mentioned to the son of Hazrat Umar bin Abdil Azeez (rahimahullah), “I did not see any person more intelligent than your father. One night, while I was engaged in a discussion with him, the lamp went off. He told me, “O Rajaa, the lamp has gone off.”
The slave of Hazrat Umar bin Abdil Azeez (rahimahullah) was sleeping nearby (but Hazrat Umar bin Abdil Azeez (rahimahullah) did not wake him up and tell him to get the oil to light the lamp).
I told him, “(O Ameerul Mumineen), awaken your slave (and tell him to light the lamp).” But he replied saying that the slave is asleep (and I do not wish to disturb his sleep). I then said to him, “I will go and light the lamp.”
However, he responded saying, “It is not in keeping with nobility and good character for a person to take service from his guest.”
He then stood up himself, got the oil and lit the lamp. He then returned and said, “I got up (to light the lamp) while I was Umar bin Abdul Azeez, and I returned and I am still Umar bin Abdul Azeez.”
(Shu’abul Imaan #9641, Al Bidaayah wan Nihaayah 12/703)
24. If the guest does something against shariah (e.g. he looks at pictures of animate objects on his phone) in the company of the host, then the host should politely correct him and stop him from what he is doing.
25. When the guest is about to leave, then it is sunnah for the host to accompany him and see him off at the entrance of his home. This action of the host will make the guest feel appreciated and honoured. However, if the guest is accompanied by his womenfolk, then the host should not accompany him and walk with him till the entrance of his home as this will go against the law of purdah.
عن أبي هريرة، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إن من السنة أن يخرج الرجل مع ضيفه إلى باب الدار (سنن ابن ماجة، الرقم: 3358)
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “It is from the sunnah (teachings) that a person should leave with his guest (and accompany him) till the door of his home (in order to see him off).”
