16/16. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1430a — Accept and Choose to Eat
The command to accept invitations
Accepting Food Invitation and Choosing to Eat
Sahih Muslim : 1430a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1430a
وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ، اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي قَالاَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِذَا دُعِيَ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى طَعَامٍ فَلْيُجِبْ فَإِنْ شَاءَ طَعِمَ وَإِنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَ " . وَلَمْ يَذْكُرِ ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى " إِلَى طَعَامٍ " .
Jabir Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him) said: When any one of you is invited to a feast, he should accept it. He may eat if he likes, or he may abandon (eating) if he likes. Ibn Mathanni did not make mention of the word" feast".
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1430aIn-book reference : Book 16, Hadith 121USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3346
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1430a
This Hadith gives a balanced teaching about food invitations. Jabir reported that Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said when one of you is invited to food, he should accept it. Then the Hadith adds that he may eat if he likes, or he may leave eating if he likes. This wording is helpful because it separates accepting the invitation from eating the food. The invited person honors the host by responding, but the text also allows a choice about eating. The narrator notes that Ibn Mathanni did not mention the word feast. The main lesson stays clear: accept the invitation, and eating itself may depend on the person's situation or choice.
What we learn from this hadith
- A food invitation should be accepted.
- Accepting the invitation does not always mean one must eat.
- The Hadith gives room to eat or leave eating.
- Responding to the host remains the main social duty.
