The Etiquette of Hospitality

The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Whoever wants to be loved by Allah and His Prophet should eat with his guest.

The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘When one of you is invited for a meal, he must not bring along his son with him too, for verily it is prohibited for him to do so and he enters the house unlawfully.

The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘A guest may expect to be honoured for two nights, then from the third night onwards he is considered to be one of the family and must eat whatever he gets.

The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Hospitality towards a guest is incumbent for the first day, the second day and the third day. After that, anything you give him is considered as charity towards him on your behalf.

The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Hosting a banquet the first day is reasonable, the second day is an act of courtesy, and any more than that is showing-off and seeking repute.

Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, ‘When someone enters the house of his fellow brother, he must sit wherever the host tells him to sit for the owner of the house knows the flaws of his own house better than the guest.

I saw a guest once at Abi Aabdillahs [i.e. Imam al-Sadiq (AS)] house, who stood up to get something he needed, so Imam refused for him to do so, and stood up to get it himself, saying, ‘The Prophet of Allah (AS) prohibited that a guest be allowed to do work.