36/32. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2054b — Preferring the Guest Despite Need
Honoring guests and the virtue of showing preference to one's guest
Hospitality Hadith: Preferring Others Despite Need
Sahih Muslim : 2054b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2054b
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ غَزْوَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي، حَازِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، . أَنَّ رَجُلاً، مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ بَاتَ بِهِ ضَيْفٌ فَلَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُ إِلاَّ قُوتُهُ وَقُوتُ صِبْيَانِهِ فَقَالَ لاِمْرَأَتِهِ نَوِّمِي الصِّبْيَةَ وَأَطْفِئِي السِّرَاجَ وَقَرِّبِي لِلضَّيْفِ مَا عِنْدَكِ - قَالَ - فَنَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ { وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ}
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
A guest spent the night with a person from the Ansar who had nothing with him but food (sufficient) for his own self and his children. He said to his wife: (Lull) the children to sleep, and put out the lamp, and serve the guest with what you have with you.It was on this occasion that this verse was revealed:" Those who prefer the needy to their own selves in spite of the fact that they are themselves in pressing need" (Lix. 9).
[1] Al-Hashr 59:9.Reference : Sahih Muslim 2054bIn-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 234USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 23, Hadith 5101
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2054b
This narration focuses on a guest who spent the night with a man from the Ansar. The host had only enough food for himself and his children. He told his wife to lull the children to sleep, put out the lamp, and serve the guest with what they had. The Hadith says that on this occasion the verse was revealed: those who prefer the needy to themselves, even though they are in pressing need. For people searching for selflessness hadith or honoring guests in Islam, this report gives a clear example. The teaching is not about showy giving. It is about real preference when resources are small.
What we learn from this hadith
- The host served the guest despite having very limited food.
- The Qur'anic verse about preferring others is linked to this event.
- The Hadith shows selflessness in a hard situation.
