Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 261
261 With regard to invitations to meals, at homes, etc. , Islam teaches that persons who are invited to such functions should accept the invitation; for, participation in such functions promotes mutual goodwill and affec- tion, and a refusal without any valid excuse may ad- versely affect the maintenance and promotion of friendly relations. But nobody must go to any such function uninvited. If a person who is invited should happen to be accompanied by one who is not invited, the former must obtain the permission of the host before asking his companion in. Guests should not arrive before time. In cases of invitations to meals particular regard must be had to cleanliness, and everybody should wash their hands before sitting down to eat. Before commencing to eat the grace and blessings of God should be asked. Food must not be devoured in a greedy manner, and everybody must eat of that which is placed nearest to him. The quality of the food must not be criticized, nor must it be praised in a manner which savours of flattery or adulation. All must wash their hands and clean their mouths and pray after the conclu- sion of the meal, asking the blessings and grace of God for the host and his people, who have been put to trou- ble and expense in providing the meal. Unless the host requests them to stay on, the guests must not tarry long after the meal but should leave soon after it. With respect to meetings and conferences, Islam teaches that only three kinds of associations or meetings can be productive of good. First, those that are founded or held with the object of promoting the welfare of the poor and the needy. Secondly, those the object of which