HOSPITALITY

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (radi Allahu anhu) reported that Allah's Apostle (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: "Have I not been informed that you offer prayer all the night & fast the whole day?" I said: "Yes." He said: "Do not do so, offer prayer at night & also sleep, fast for a few days & give up fasting for a few days because your body has a right on you & your eye has a right on you & your guest has a right on you & your wife has a right on you. I hope that you will have a long life & it is sufficient for you to fast for three days a month as the reward of a good deed, is multiplied ten times, that means, as if you fasted the whole year."

"I insisted (on fasting more) so I was given a hard instruction. I said: "I can do more that that (fasting)." The Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, "Fast three days every week." But as I insisted (on fasting more) so I was burdened. I said: "I can fast more than that." The Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, "Fast as Prophet David used to fast." I said, "How was the fasting of the Prophet David?" The Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, "One half of a year (i.e. he used to fast on alternate days)." (Bukhari)

Sayyiduna Abu Shuraih al-Ka'bi (radi Allahu anhu) reported that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: "Whoever believes in Allah & the Last Day should serve his guest generously. The guest's reward is: To provide him with a superior type of food for a night & a day & a guest is to be entertained with food for three days & whatever is offered beyond that, is regarded as something given in charity & it is not lawful for a guest to stay with his host for such a long period so as to put him in a critical position." (Bukhari)

Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (radi Allahu anhu) reported that Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: "Whoever believes in Allah & the Last Day, should not hurt his neighbour & whoever believes in Allah & the Last Day, should serve his guest generously & whoever believes in Allah & the Last Day, should talk what is good or keep quiet." (Bukhari)

Sayyiduna Aqbah bin Aamir (radi Allahu anhu) reported: "We said, "O Allah's Apostle (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)! You send us out & it happens that we have to stay with such people as do not entertain us. What do you think about it?& Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said to us, If you stay with some people & they entertain you as they should for a guest, accept it; but if they do not do then you should take from them the right of the guest, which they ought to give." (Bukhari)

Sayyiduna Abu Juhaifah (radi Allahu anhu) reported that the Beloved Rasool (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) established a bond of brotherhood between Sayyiduna Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) & Sayyiduna Abu Darda (radi Allahu anhu). Sayyiduna Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) paid a visit to Sayyiduna Abu Darda (radi Allahu anhu) & found Sayyidah Umm-e-Abu Darda (radi Allahu anha) dressed in shabby clothes & asked her why she was in that state. She replied: "Your brother, Abu Ad-Darda (radi Allahu anhu) is not interested in the luxuries of this world." In the meantime, Sayyiduna Abu Ad-Darda (radi Allahu anhu) came & prepared a meal for him (Sayyiduna Salmaan - radi Allahu anhu) & said to him: "Please eat for I am fasting." Sayyiduna Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) said: "I am not going to eat, unless you eat." So Sayyiduna Abu Ad-Darda (radi Allahu anhu) ate. When it was night, Sayyiduna Abu Ad-Darda (radi Allahu anhu) got up (for the night prayer). Sayyiduna Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) said to him: "Sleep" & he slept. Again Sayyiduna Abu Ad-Darda (radi Allahu anhu) got up for the prayer & Sayyiduna Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) said to him: "Sleep." When it was the last part of the night, Sayyiduna Salmaan said to him: "Get up now for the prayer." So both of them offered their prayers & Sayyiduna Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) said to Sayyiduna Abu Ad-Darda (radi Allahu anhu): "Your Lord has a right on you & your soul has a right on you & your family has a right on you, so you should give the rights of all those who have a right on you."  The Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: "Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) has spoken the truth." (Bukhari)

Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) reported: "Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) invited a group of people & told me, "Look after your guests." Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) added, "I am going to visit the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) & you should finish serving them before I return."

Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman (radi Allahu anhu) said: "So I went at once & served them with what was available at that time in the house & requested them to eat." They said, "Where is the owner of the house." Abdur Rahman (radi Allahu anhu) said, "Take your meal." They said, "We will not eat till the owner of the house comes." Abdur Rahman (radi Allahu anhu) said, "Accept your meal from us, for if my father comes & finds you not having taken your meal you we will be blamed severely by him," but they refused to take their meals. So I was sure that my father would be angry with me. When he came, I went away (to hide myself) from him. He asked, "What have you done (about the guests?)." They informed him the whole story Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) called: "O Abdur Rahman (radi Allahu anhu)! I kept quiet." He then called again: "O Abdur Rahman (radi Allahu anhu)!" I kept quiet & he called again, "O Ignorant boy! I beseech you by Allah, if you hear my voice, then come out." I came out & said, "Please ask your guests (& do not be angry with me)." They said, "He has told the truth; he brought the meal to us." He said, "As you have been waiting for me, by Allah, I will not eat of it tonight." They said, "By Allah, we will have never seen a night like this night in evil. What is wrong with you? Why don't you accept your meals of hospitality from us?" (He said to me), "Bring your meal." I brought it to him & he put his hand in it, saying, "In the name of Allah." The first state of fury was because of Shaytaan. "So Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) ate and so did his guests." (Bukhari)