Wisdom of The Holy Prophet — Page 30
30 HOSPITALITY AND ENTERTAINMENT There is no harm fpr the blind, thc: lame, the sick or yourselves that you eat from your own houses, or from the houses of your fathers, or mothers, or brothers or sisters. or uncles, pr aunts, or from those that you are in charge of or from the house of a friend. Nor is there any harm whether you eat together or separately. But when you enter houses, salute your people with the greetings of peace, a greeting from your Lord full of blessings and purity (24. 62). They feed the poor, the orphan and the captive for the love of Allah, assuring them: We feed you only for Allah's pleasure. We desire from you neither reward nor thanks. (76. 9-10). * * * The Holy Prophet (peace be on him) said: 1. The wprst wedding feast is that from which those are excluded who would come willingly and to which those are invited who would rather stay away. He who does not accept an invitation disobeys Allah and His Messenger. 2. Accept an invitation, do not reject a gift and do not strike your fellows. 3. He who does not accept an invitation disobeys Allah and His Messenger, and he whp enters a house uninvited enters a thief and emerges a robber. 4. When the food is laid out, let the principal person or the host, or the best of those present begin first. 5. A guest is entitled to be entertained for three days; beyond that it is charity on the part of the host. A guest should depart within this period and spare his host em barrassment. 6. When someone visits you do honour to him. 7. Do not entertain a guest ostentatiously. 8. The Holy Prophet (peace be on him) forbade being too formal with a guest.