Eman Sakina

Hospitality holds a special place in Islam and is considered a noble virtue. The way Muslims treat their guests reflects their faith and character. Islam encourages kindness, generosity, and respect when welcoming visitors, whether they are family, friends, or strangers.

Friday Musings

Prophet Muhammad reminded us of the high status of one who treats his guest well when he said, "…Let the believer in God and the Day of Judgment honour his guest." Honouring, or treating a guest well is coupled with two of the most important beliefs in Islam, belief in God and belief in the Day of Judgment.  In Islam, the hospitality relationship is triangular; it consists of the host, guest, and God.  Hospitality is a right rather than a gift, and the duty to supply it is a duty to God.

When a guest arrives at your home, whether even when he is unexpectedly you must remember a few simple things. It is easy to provide your guest with a pleasurable experience and to reap the rewards from the Almighty. One must greet the guests warmly, welcome them to home, and show them a comfortable and appropriate room. You must quickly provide them with food and drinks so before they have to ask for these.

Prophet Muhammad showed respect to his guests by offering them the choicest food and delivering it promptly.  

Principles of Hospitality in Islam

Welcoming Guests with a Smile: A warm smile and kind words set the tone for a pleasant visit. The Prophet said: “Your smiling at the face of your brother is charity.”

Smiling and greeting guests cheerfully make them feel valued and comfortable.

Offering Food and Drink Generously: Serving food is a key part of Islamic hospitality. The Prophet Ibrahim (AS) is known for his exceptional hospitality, as mentioned in the Quran:

“Has the story reached you, of the honoured guests of Ibrahim? When they entered upon him and said, ‘Peace!’ He answered, ‘Peace, [you are] a people unknown.’ Then he went to his family and came with a fat, roasted calf.”(Surah Adh-Dhariyat 51:24-26)

Following this example, Muslims should offer their best food to guests, ensuring they feel welcomed and appreciated.

Prioritizing Guests' Comfort

Providing a clean and comfortable place for guests to sit and rest is important. The Prophet taught that even small acts of kindness, like arranging a seat, are valuable.

Serving Guests Promptly

Delaying food or neglecting guests can make them feel unwelcome. It is sunnah to serve guests as soon as possible and ensure they are well taken care of.

Avoiding Extravagance and Show-Off

While generosity is encouraged, Islam discourages wastefulness and showing off. The Quran warns: “Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils.” (Surah Al-Isra 17:27)

Hospitality should be sincere and within one’s means.

Also, the host must respect their privacy and preferences. Islam teaches respect for personal space. If a guest wishes to leave or has dietary preferences, the host should accommodate them without pressure.

Treating Guests Equally

Hospitality should be extended to all, regardless of their social status or background. The Prophet treated all guests with the same kindness, whether rich or poor.

The guest also has responsibilities.  One of them is to announce his or her visit in advance whenever possible.  Another is to hasten to taste the refreshments and to pray for and ask blessings upon the host.   After seeing to the initial needs of his guest the Muslim should take interest in his or her conversation.  However, if the guest should speak about or engage in unlawful activity, the Muslim has every right to ask him to refrain from doing so.

Again, the responsibility of the guest is to bear in mind the conditions of his host and not burden him with what he cannot afford. When Prophet Muhammad was explaining why a guest should not stay for long periods, he said that by prolonging his stay a guest might cause his brother to be involved in sin.  He was asked how he could be involved in sin. Prophet Muhammad answered, ‘By prolonging his stay with his host when he has nothing (left in his house) with which to entertain him.’

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In Islam, hospitality is more than just serving food—it is about making guests feel welcome, respected, and valued. Following the example of the Prophet, Muslims should embrace hospitality with sincerity, generosity, and humility, earning rewards from Allah and strengthening relationships.