70/57. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5461 — Hospitality and Permission for an Extra Guest
"May this (person) come with me too?"
وَقَالَ أَنَسٌ إِذَا دَخَلْتَ عَلَى مُسْلِمٍ لاَ يُتَّهَمُ فَكُلْ مِنْ طَعَامِهِ، وَاشْرَبْ مِنْ شَرَابِهِ.
Hadith About Hospitality and an Uninvited Guest
Sahih Bukhari : 5461
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5461
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي الأَسْوَدِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، حَدَّثَنَا شَقِيقٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مَسْعُودٍ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، قَالَ كَانَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ يُكْنَى أَبَا شُعَيْبٍ، وَكَانَ لَهُ غُلاَمٌ لَحَّامٌ، فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهْوَ فِي أَصْحَابِهِ، فَعَرَفَ الْجُوعَ فِي وَجْهِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَهَبَ إِلَى غُلاَمِهِ اللَّحَّامِ فَقَالَ اصْنَعْ لِي طَعَامًا يَكْفِي خَمْسَةً، لَعَلِّي أَدْعُو النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَامِسَ خَمْسَةٍ. فَصَنَعَ لَهُ طُعَيِّمًا، ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ فَدَعَاهُ، فَتَبِعَهُمْ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا أَبَا شُعَيْبٍ إِنَّ رَجُلاً تَبِعَنَا فَإِنْ شِئْتَ أَذِنْتَ لَهُ، وَإِنْ شِئْتَ تَرَكْتَهُ ". قَالَ لاَ بَلْ أَذِنْتُ لَهُ.
Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari Narrated from:
There was an Ansari man nicknamed, Abu Shu'aib, who had a slave who was a butcher. He came to the Prophet (ﷺ) while he was sitting with his companions and noticed the signs of hunger on the face of the Prophet (ﷺ). So he went to his butcher slave and said, "Prepare for me a meal sufficient for five persons so that I may invite the Prophet (ﷺ) along with four other men."He had the meal prepared for him and invited him. A (sixth) man followed them. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "O Abu Shu'aib! Another man has followed us. If you wish, you may invite him; and if you wish, you may refuse him." Abu Shu'aib said, "No, I will admit him."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5461In-book reference : Book 70, Hadith 90USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 65, Hadith 371
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5461
This hadith about hospitality shows good manners from both the guest and the host. Abu Shu'aib prepared food for five people after seeing hunger on the face of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. When another man followed the invited group, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not assume the host must accept him. He clearly told Abu Shu'aib that the man had followed them and gave him the choice to admit him or refuse him. Abu Shu'aib then allowed him in. The core teaching is balanced: feeding guests is a noble act, but the host's right and capacity are also respected. This uninvited guest hadith teaches kindness, consent, and clear speech around invitations.
What we learn from this hadith
- A host's capacity and choice should be respected.
- Inviting someone to food is a generous deed.
- An extra guest should not be forced on the host.
- Clear communication can protect comfort and good manners.
