Some light on the teaching of the Prophet Muhammad about how to deal with your guest and what are the rights of your guests

(1) It is narrated that the Prophet Muhammad said,

"He who believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him show hospitality to his guest; and

He who believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him maintain good relation to his kin; and

He, who believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak well or remain silent.''


How to honor your guest according to Islamic custom:

1. welcome him cheerfully,
2. Entertain him happily according to our capacity and
3. Have full regard of his comfort and rest.

The good relation to your kin:

As for the relatives, the believers are supposed to

1. treat them nicely, and to
2. Do their proper duty towards them.

Reserve in speech implies that the believers should:

1. Avoid senseless and irrelevant talk.
2. Say what is good to everybody, or
3. Have better keep silent.
4. Apt to pass most of their time in the remembrance of Allah, seeking His forgiveness

These three qualities are possessed by those people who believe in Allah and the Day of Reckoning.

In other words, those who lack these three qualities have weak and imperfect Faith in Allah and the Day of Reckoning.

The Rights of the guest:

Muhammad: if hospitality exceeds three days it is charity

(2) It is also narrated that the Prophet Muhammad said,

"He, who believes in Allah and the Last Day, should accommodate his guest according to his right.''

A man asked the Prophet Muhammad: "What is his right, O Messenger of Allah?''

Muhammad replied: "It is (to accommodate him) for a day and a night, and hospitality extends for three days, and what is beyond that is charity.''

(3) In another Prophetic Hadith, Muhammad said,

"It is not permissible for a Muslim to stay so long with his brother till he makes him sinful.''

He was asked: "O Messenger of Allah, how can he make him sinful?''

Muhammad replied: "He prolongs his stay with him till nothing is left with the host to entertain him (guest).''

This Hadith presents the protocol of the duration of hospitality.

A guest should to be given the best entertainment on the first day and night. For the next two days, hospitality should be moderate.

On the fourth day, the guest should leave for his destination.

Yet if he chooses to stay, hospitality will be in the sense of charity.