Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) The Hospitable 

Ali Zohery, Ph.D.

            Hospitality was another key value in the speeches of Muhammad. Being hospitable to your neighbor was another way of showing love and kindness. He stated clearly that:

He who believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his guests. Provisions for the road are whatever will serve for a day and a night; hospitality extends for three days; what goes beyond that is charity; and it is not allowable that a guest should stay until he makes himself a burden. (Bukhari, 6019) 

Hospitality then was not to be abused by the person receiving it. If the person receiving hospitality becomes a burden then it goes beyond his ideals. It was to be mutually compromising by the two parties. As corroborated by the following quotes: “If you come to people who order for you what is fitting for a guest, accept it; but if they do not, take from them what is fitting for them to give to a guest” (Bukhari).  A companion asked the Prophet, “messenger of Allah, tell me: if I come to a man who does not entertain me or show hospitality and he afterwards comes to me, should I entertain him or treat him as he treated me?”  The Prophet said: “Entertain him”. (Tirmidhi, 2006)

He also emphasized the idea of sharing with one another. People should eat together because there is more blessing in eating together than trying to eat separately (lbn Majah). He then stated that  “Good comes more quickly to the house in which food is provided (to the guests) than the knife comes to the camels’ hump’’ (Ibn Majah). “When one of you is invited to a meal, he must accept it.  If he wishes, he may eat, but if he wishes he may leave the food alone” (Muslim). “If anyone rejects an invitation, he has disobeyed Allah and His Messenger” (Bukhari).  The Prophet forbade people to accept the food of those who invite people for self—glory and ostentation (Abu Dawud).  “When one of you visits his brother Muslim, he should eat his food without asking questions. Eating the food of your brother is a sign of love and sincerity in your dealings with him.

Examples from the Prophet’s Practice

      A man prepared some food especially for the Prophet and also invited four other persons with him. But an extra person who had not been invited also joined them. On arriving at the door of the host’s house, the Prophet said to the host: “This man has accompanied us.  If you like, he will join us, otherwise he will go back.”  The host replied: “O Messenger of Allah. I invite him.’’ (Bukhari).  “He who serves drinks should himself be the last person to drink’’. (Tirmidhi) This was a kind gesture that is closely link with mercy that forms the next part of our analysis. 

There are many other instances in the life of Prophet Muhammad when he demonstrated hospitality. This is cited in Rahman (1992):

A man prepared some food specially for the Prophet and also invited four other persons with him. But an extra person who had not been invited also joined them. On arriving at the door of the host: “This man has accompanied us. If you like he will join us, otherwise he will go back.” The host replied: “ O Messenger of Allah, I invite him” ( Bukhari and Muslim in Rahman, 1992, p.192)

This is clearly a situation that shows how the Prophet respected each and every body. He loved everyone regardless of their origin, class or gender. If he was to behave like today’s leaders he would have simply told the man who was accompanying them for this food invitation to return because they were going for a special invitation. But he decided to take him along with him. Again, he did not behave like the King or Monarch to impose on the host to look for something for this man. Rather he knew how embarrassing it could be to invite three people and four of them show up. He was polite to tell the host that if this situation will embarrass him, this man will have no other choice but to return. It was then that the host said he was willing to accommodate the man. Here again we see Prophet Muhammad behaving like a real human being who feels and care for others.

            We are told again by Rahman ( 1993) that the hospitality of Prophet Muhammad knew no boundaries. His house was always full with people and food was always in abundance. He too didn’t discriminate those who came to his house for hospitality. He would even personally serve them. He was really a servant of the people. There are also situations where the Prophet demonstrated real human behavior. There was a story of a man who asked for food and drink from Abu Bakr but he passed away and did not help him. This same man also stopped Umar and he too did not resolve the hunger and distress of the man. But when the Prophet stopped by he took this man to his house and gave him “ a cup of milk” ( p.67). That was not even the end. He went the extra mile of finding out more about this man. This is what role models like Prophet Muhammad were sent to this earth to do. To help those who are in distress, and cannot fend for themselves. The idea of talking to the man to find out more about him was an attempt by the Prophet to avert future occurrence and make the man have hope for the future.

There are verses in the Qu’ran that teaches everyone to be hospital:

“ And spread charity for the benefit of your souls. And those saved from the covetousness of their own souls. They are the ones that achieve prosperity” (65: 16)

Also cited in Rahman ( 1993, p.68):

In Surah Al-Baqarah “ O you who believe! Give of the good things which you have honorably earned, and of the fruits of the earth which we have produced for you…And whatever you spent in charity or devotion, be sure God knows it all.”   ( 2:267-270)