Hospitality in Islam: Honouring Guests the Prophetic Way

Hospitality as Part of Faith

The Prophet said: "anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should entertain his guest generously" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6018). Hospitality isn't just good manners in Islam, it's tied to belief itself. When a man asked which qualities of Islam are good, the Prophet replied: "To feed (the poor) and greet those whom you know and those whom you do not know" (Sahih al-Bukhari 12).

The Example of Ibrahim

The Quran tells of Ibrahim's visitors: "Has there reached you the story of the honored guests of Abraham? When they entered upon him and said, '[We greet you with] peace.' He answered, '[And upon you] peace; [you are] a people unknown.' Then he went to his family and came with a fat [roasted] calf And placed it near them; he said, 'Will you not eat?'" (Adh-Dhariyat, 51:24-27, Sahih International). He welcomed strangers, served the best he had, brought the food close to them, and invited them gently to eat.

How Long Hospitality Lasts

The Prophet explained: "The guest's reward is: To provide him with a superior type of food for a night and a day and a guest is to be entertained with food for three days, and whatever is offered beyond that, is regarded as something given in charity" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6135). The same narration adds that a guest shouldn't stay so long that it becomes a burden on the host.

Generosity Beyond Your Means

Sahih al-Bukhari records the story of an Ansari couple who hosted a guest of the Prophet when they had only enough food for their children. They put the children to sleep, dimmed the lamp so the guest wouldn't notice, and went to bed hungry themselves. The Prophet told the man that Allah was pleased with what they had done, and the verse about those who "give [them] preference over themselves, even though they are in privation" was revealed (Sahih al-Bukhari 3798; Al-Hashr, 59:9, Sahih International).

Good Manners for Hosts and Guests

A guest can thank the host with "JazakAllahu khayran", explained in our guide to everyday Islamic phrases, and meals begin and end with the duas in our dua after eating guide.

Teaching Hospitality to Children

Children learn hospitality by helping: greeting guests, offering drinks, and saying goodbye at the door. Short hadith about feeding others and good character, like those in our list of 35 hadith for kids, give them words for what they're practising.

Learn Islamic Manners and Character

Our Islamic Studies course covers akhlaq (character) and adab (manners) one-to-one, including for children in our Quran classes for kids. You can book a free trial lesson with no card required, or call +44 7848 496686.