Chapter I: Etiquette of Eating
RULES OF ENTERTAINMENT OF GUESTS
There are six rule of entertainment of guests-to invite, to accept invitation, to attend at the invitation, to present food, to take meal and then to depart. The Prophet said about the entertainment of guests. Don't take trouble for a guest , lest you think bad of him. He who thinks bad of a guest, thinks bad of God and God also thinks bad of him. He also said : There is no good in one who does not entertain guest. The Prophet once passed by an owner of many camels and cattle who did not entertain him. A woman who had some goats only entertained him by sacrificing a goat. At this, the Prophet said : Look at these two persons and this conduct is in the hand of God . He gives it to whom He is pleased with . Once a guest came to the Prophet who said : As I have got a guest, tell that Jew to give me a loan, I shall repay it in the month of Rajab. The Jew said : By God, if you do not keep something as pawn, I will not give you the loan. On being informed of it, the Prophet said : By God, I am trustworthy in heaven and trustworthy in the earth. If he gives me loan, I shall repay it. Take my shield and give it to him as a pawn.
Whenever the Prophet Abraham wished to take meal, he used to seek as guest to take meal with him up to the distance of one or two miles for which he was surnamed Abu Zaifan or father of guests. The custom of entertainment of guest is still prevalent by the side of his grave as a commemoration of this attribute of his. Not a single night passes there when one to three hundred guests are not entertained. The manager of this place
14 The Book of Wordly Usages Vol-II
says that up to this day no night passed there without a guest.
The Prophet was once asked : What is faith ? He replied : Not to be miserly in giving food and in tendering salam. The Prophet said : Giving food and praying at night when people remain asleep expiate sins and increase rank. Being asked about an accepted pilgrimage, the Prophet said: Giving food and talking sweet words. Hazrat Anas said : Angels do not enter a house where a guest does not enter. There are many other traditions regarding the merits of entertainment .
TO INVITE AND TO ACCEPT INVITATIONS