36/32. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2054a — Honoring a Guest with Selfless Care
Honoring guests and the virtue of showing preference to one's guest
Hadith About Hospitality: Honoring Guests in Islam
Sahih Muslim : 2054a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2054a
حَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ، عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ غَزْوَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ الأَشْجَعِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ إِنِّي مَجْهُودٌ . فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى بَعْضِ نِسَائِهِ فَقَالَتْ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا عِنْدِي إِلاَّ مَاءٌ . ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَ إِلَى أُخْرَى فَقَالَتْ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى قُلْنَ كُلُّهُنَّ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ لاَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا عِنْدِي إِلاَّ مَاءٌ . فَقَالَ " مَنْ يُضِيفُ هَذَا اللَّيْلَةَ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ " . فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَقَالَ أَنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . فَانْطَلَقَ بِهِ إِلَى رَحْلِهِ فَقَالَ لاِمْرَأَتِهِ هَلْ عِنْدَكِ شَىْءٌ . قَالَتْ لاَ إِلاَّ قُوتُ صِبْيَانِي . قَالَ فَعَلِّلِيهِمْ بِشَىْءٍ فَإِذَا دَخَلَ ضَيْفُنَا فَأَطْفِئِي السِّرَاجَ وَأَرِيهِ أَنَّا نَأْكُلُ فَإِذَا أَهْوَى لِيَأْكُلَ فَقُومِي إِلَى السِّرَاجِ حَتَّى تُطْفِئِيهِ . قَالَ فَقَعَدُوا وَأَكَلَ الضَّيْفُ . فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ غَدَا عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " قَدْ عَجِبَ اللَّهُ مِنْ صَنِيعِكُمَا بِضَيْفِكُمَا اللَّيْلَةَ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
A person came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said: I am hard pressed by hunger. He sent (message) to one of his wives (to procure food for him). but she said: By Him Who has sent you with Truth, there is nothing with me (to serve him) but only water. He (the Holy Prophet) then sent the (same) message to another, and she gave the same reply, until all of them gave the same reply: By Him Who has sent thee with the Truth, there is nothing with me but only water, whereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Allah would show mercy to him who will entertain this guest tonight.A person from the Ansar stood up and said: Messenger of Allah, I (am ready to entertain). He took him to his house and said to his wife: Is there anything with you (to serve the guest)? She said: No, but only a subsistence for our children. He said: Distract their attention with something, and when the guest enters extinguish the lamp and give him the impression that we are eating. So they sat down. and the guest had his meal. When it was morning he went to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) who said: Allah was well pleased with what you both did for your guest this night.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2054aIn-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 233USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 23, Hadith 5100
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2054a
This Hadith about hospitality gives a moving example of caring for a guest while having very little. A hungry man came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم checked with his wives, but they had only water. He then asked who would host the man that night, asking Allah's mercy for the one who did. A man from the Ansar took him home. His wife said they had only food for the children, so they arranged for the guest to eat while thinking they were eating too. In the morning, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said Allah was pleased with what the couple did for their guest that night.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم cared for a hungry guest and sought someone to host him.
- The Ansari couple gave preference to their guest despite limited food.
- The Hadith mentions Allah's pleasure with their action that night.
