Honoring the Guest

Meeting guests with a smiling face and generosity is one of the beautiful reflections of the sunnah.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) was generous to his guests, feeding those who came to him hungry in his own home. He received visiting delegations with a smiling face and kind words. He said, "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him honor his guest." Honoring the guest shows the blessing of the home and the breadth of the heart.

What is the hadith source of this sunnah?

This sunnah rests on the following hadiths. The reference gives the collection, chapter and number where the hadith appears.

• B6475 Buhârî, Rikâk, 23
• M5362 Müslim, Eşribe, 174
• B5375 Buhârî, Et'ıme, 1
• B87 Buhârî, İlim, 25

More sunnahs in Social Life

As a table with references: Social Life sunnahs.

• Looking After the Neighbor: Treating the neighbor well and looking after them is a sunnah the Prophet valued greatly.
• Visiting the Sick: Visiting and consoling sick friends and loved ones is a beautiful part of the sunnah.
• Exchanging Gifts: Giving a gift and receiving it graciously nourishes love between hearts.
• Saying That You Love Someone: Telling someone you love them is a sunnah the Prophet recommended.
• Forgiveness and Keeping One's Word: Forgiving the one who wrongs you and answering with kindness was the way of the Prophet.
• Giving Charity: Giving charity, however little, protects its giver and softens the heart.
• Faithfulness to a Trust: Guarding what is entrusted to you and returning it to its owner is the most basic sign of trustworthiness.
• Wanting for Your Brother Too: Wanting for your brother what you want for yourself is a sign of mature faith.
• Seeking Knowledge: Allah eases the path to Paradise for one who sets out in search of knowledge.
• Never Saying "I Have None": A generosity that made a principle of never saying "I have none" when asked for something.