قال الله تعالىٰ: {هَل أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيفِ إِبرَٰهِيمَ ٱلمُكرَمِينَ * إِذ دَخَلُواْ عَلَيهِ فَقَالُواْ سَلَٰما قَالَ سَلَٰم قَوم مُّنكَرُونَ * فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهلِهِۦ فَجَآءَ بِعِجل سَمِين * فَقَرَّبَهُۥٓ إِلَيهِم قَالَ أَلَا تَأكُلُونَ} [الذاريات: 24 ــ27]، وقال تعالىٰ: {وَجَآءَهُۥ قَومُهُۥ يُهرَعُونَ إِلَيهِ وَمِن قَبلُ كَانُواْ يَعمَلُونَ ٱلسَّئَِّاتِ قَالَ يَٰقَومِ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ بَنَاتِي هُنَّ أَطهَرُ لَكُم فَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُخزُونِ فِي ضَيفِيٓ أَلَيسَ مِنكُم رَجُل رَّشِيد} [هود: 78].
Allah Almighty says: {Has there reached you the story of the honored guests of Abraham? When they entered upon him and said: “Peace [be with you].” He answered: “[Upon you be] peace; an unknown people.” Then he went to his family and came with a fat [roasted] calf and placed it before them; he said: “Will you not eat?”} [Al-Dhāriyāt: 24-27] Allah Almighty also says: {And his people came hastening to him, and before [this] they had been doing evil deeds. He said: “O my people, these are my daughters; they are purer for you. So fear Allah and do not disgrace me concerning my guests. Is there not among you a man of reason?”} [Hūd: 78]
1) يُستحب لمن حُيِّيَ بتحية أن يردَّ بأحسن منها أو بمثلها، ويشمل ذلك الإحسان باللفظ وبالكيفية، فهذا من الإكرام المطلوب.
1) It is recommended for a person who receives a greeting that he returns it with a greeting better than it or like it. This kindness can be shown verbally or behaviorally. This is commendable generosity.
2) حسن معاملة الضيف وإكرامه من خصال الإيمان بالله واليوم الآخر.
2) Hospitality and honoring guests are among the traits entailed by belief in Allah Almighty and the Last Day.
3) من لطائف أدب الضيافة تقديم الطعام للضيف، لا أَنْ يُقدَّمَ الضيف للطعام، من قوله {فَقَرَّبَهُۥٓ إِليهم}.
3) A subtle aspect of hospitality is to serve food to the guest, not to let him go to the food. This is deduced from the part of the verse that says: {and he placed it before them}.
1/706 ــ عن أبي هريرةَ رضي الله عنه أنَّ النَّبيَّ قال: «مَنْ كَانَ يُؤمِنُ بِالله وَاليَومِ الآخِرِ فَلْيُكْرِمْ ضَيْفَهُ، وَمَنْ كانَ يُؤمِنُ بِالله وَاليَومِ الآخِرِ فَلْيَصِلْ رَحِمَهُ، وَمَنْ كانَ يُؤمِنُ بِالله وَاليَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيقُلْ خَيْراً أَوْ لِيَصْمُتْ». متفق عليه.
706/1 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his guest; whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should maintain his ties of kinship; and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or keep silent.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1) حثّ النَّبيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم علىٰ الإكرام، ويشمل ذلك كل ما يعدّه أهل الصلاح إكراماً ويتعارفون عليه.
1) The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) urged hospitality, which includes all the things commonly considered by the righteous people as hospitality to the guest.
2) إكرام الضيف يكون بالقول، أو بالفعل، أو بهما معاً.
2) Hospitality can be shown through words or actions or both.
2/707 ــ وعن أبي شُرَيْح خُوَيلدِ بنِ عمروٍ الخُزاعِيِّ رضي الله عنه قال: سَمِعْتُ رسولَ الله يقول: «مَنْ كانَ يؤمِنُ بِالله وَاليَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيُكْرِمْ ضَيفَهُ جَائِزَتَهُ» قالوا: وما جَائِزَتُهُ يارسولَ الله؟ قال: «يَومُهُ ولَيْلَتُهُ. والضِّيَافَةُ ثَلاثةُ أَيَّامٍ، فما كان وَرَاءَ ذلكَ فهو صَدَقَةٌ عليه». متفقٌ عليه.
707/2 - Abu Shurayh Khuwaylid ibn ‘Amr al-Khuzā‘i (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him honor his guest with his due reward.” They said: “O Messenger of Allah, what is his due reward?” He said: “A day and a night (of excellent accommodation); and hospitality is for three days, and whatever beyond that is charity offered to him.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
وفي روايةٍ لمسلمٍ: «لا يَحِلُّ لِمُسْلِمٍ أَن يُقِيمَ عِند أخِيهِ حتىٰ يُؤْثِمَهُ» قالوا: يا رسولَ الله، وكَيْفَ يُؤثِمُهُ؟ قال: «يقِيمُ عِنْدَهُ وَلا شَيْءَ لَهُ يَقْرِيهِ بِهِ».
In a version by Muslim: “It is not lawful for a Muslim to stay in his fellow Muslim’s house making him sinful.” They said: “O Messenger of Allah, how would he make him sinful?” He said: “He stays with him (so long) that nothing is left with him to offer to him as hospitality.”
1) إكرام الضيف واجب؛ وذلك لأنَّ النَّبيَّ أمر به، وجعله علامة دالة علىٰ الإيمان بالله واليوم الآخر.
1) Honoring the guest is a duty, for the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) commanded it and regarded it as a sign of belief in Allah and the Last Day.
2) مدة الضيافة ثلاثة أيام، وما زاد فهو صدقة وتفضل وإحسان.
2) Three days are the period of due hospitality, and whatever beyond that is charity and benevolence.
3) يستحب للضيف التخفيف، حتىٰ لا يُوقعَ المضيف في الحرج، إذا لم يجد ما يقدّمه لضيفه من واجب الضيافة.
3) It is recommended for a guest not to burden the host and place him in an embarrassing situation if he cannot afford to entertain him.
4) دعوة الشريعة إلىٰ رعاية الآداب بين المؤمنين.
4) The Shariah calls for observance of etiquettes among the believers.