Question:
Assalamualaikum. I’m an employee that works and come back home at night. Exhausted from work, there’s always guests that come to visit during the night, thus interrupting my time to rest. Not only on weekdays, even on weekends people would visit me not during the day but at night when I want to rest. Is it considered as dishonouring my guests if I set a time for them to visit me? I hope to get an explanation from you.
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam. Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the many countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the prophet Muhammad PBUH, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
The Quran has stated the story of the nobility of characters of the prophets receiving and honouring their guests. One of the examples is the Prophet Abraham AS. His story is recorded in the Quran. Allah SWT said:
هَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيْفِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلْمُكْرَمِينَ ﴿٢٤﴾ إِذْ دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا۟ سَلَـٰمًا ۖ قَالَ سَلَـٰمٌ قَوْمٌ مُّنكَرُونَ ﴿٢٥﴾ فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦ فَجَآءَ بِعِجْلٍ سَمِينٍ ﴿٢٦﴾ فَقَرَّبَهُۥٓ إِلَيْهِمْ قَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ
“Has there reached you the story of the honoured 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?"
Surah Al-Dzariyat (24-27)
This verse recorded the actions of the Prophet Abraham AS, where he welcomes and receives his guests even though he’s not acquainted with them nor does he know who they were. He didn’t know that they were in fact angels but still he entertains his guests nonetheless.
Ibnu Kathir said in his commentaries: “Imam Ahmad and most scholars hold the opinion that it is obligatory to entertain guests that come to visit your house.” Refer Tafsir Al-Quran Al-‘Azim (4/300).
Syeikh Amin Al-Syanqiti said in the story of Prophet Abraham AS, there are a few lessons that could be taken from it:
- Food and drinks should be served immediately for guests.
- Serve the best things that are available.
- Place the food near your guests for their convenience
- Mind your manners when speaking to your guests
Refer Adhwa’ Al-Bayan Fi Idhah Al-Quran Bi Al-Quran (2/297)
Furthermore, the Prophet PBUH encourages us to honour our guests. The Prophet PBUH states:
مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلَا يُؤْذِ جَارَهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلْيُكْرِمْ ضَيْفَهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلْيَقُلْ خَيْرًا أَوْ لِيَصْمُتْ
"Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should not hurt his neighbour and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should serve his guest generously and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should speak what is good or keep silent."
Sahih Al-Bukhari (6136)
From this narration, one of the characteristics of a believer is honouring his guests. Al-Munawi said:
“He is the one that honour his guests may they be rich or poor. Welcoming guests with happiness, giving gifts, and visit their guest as an honour of them visiting him.” Refer Faidh Al-Qadir (6/209)
Simply put, welcoming and honouring guests is the Prophet PBUH’s sunnah. This is the opinion of the majority of the Islamic scholars. Imam Al-Nawawi said:
“Honouring guests is sunnah. If someone visits his house and there’s no harm in it to him then it is sunnah for him to honour his guests.” Refer Al-Majmu’ Syarh Al-Muhazzab (9/57)
It is also a sunnah to visit each other. This is to nourish love and care and strengthening the ukhuwwah (brotherhood) between Muslims. The Prophet PBUH once reminded us about this, from Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ عَادَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ زَارَ أَخًا لَهُ فِي اللهِ نَادَاهُ مُنَادٍ أَنْ طِبْتَ وَطَابَ مَمْشَاكَ وَتَبَوَّأْتَ مِنَ الجَنَّةِ مَنْزِلاً
“Whoever visit the sick or his brother (in Islam) for the sake of Allah, will be called on: you have gain goodness, your way will be made easy and there will a be a place for you in paradise.”
Sunan Al-Tarmizi (2008)
In another narration, the Prophet PBUH said:
أَنَّ رَجُلاً زَارَ أَخًا لَهُ فِي قَرْيَةٍ أُخْرَى ، فَأَرْصَدَ اللَّهُ لَهُ ، عَلَى مَدْرَجَتِهِ ، مَلَكًا فَلَمَّا أَتَى عَلَيْهِ ، قَالَ : أَيْنَ تُرِيدُ ؟ قَالَ : أُرِيدُ أَخًا لِي فِي هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ ، قَالَ : هَلْ لَكَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ تَرُبُّهَا ؟ قَالَ : لاَ ، غَيْرَ أَنِّي أَحْبَبْتُهُ فِي اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ، قَالَ فَإِنِّي رَسُولُ اللهِ إِلَيْكَ ، بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَبَّكَ كَمَا أَحْبَبْتَهُ فِيهِ
"A man visited a brother of his in a village, so Allah put an angel in wait for him on the road. He asked, 'Where are you going?' He replied, 'To a brother of mine in this village.' He said, 'Is he responsible for some blessing you have?' He said, 'No, I love him for Allah.' He said, 'I am a messenger of Allah to you. Allah loves you as you love him.'"
Sahih Muslim (6714)
Al-Munawi states that from this hadith it can be said that if someone visits and loves his brother for the sake of Allah SWT then Allah SWT will love him. Refer Faidh Al-Qadir (4/61)
However, there are a few manners and guidelines that should be followed when visiting someone’s house. Some of them are:
- Eat quickly if food or drinks are served
- Don’t ask to be served food or things that would trouble homeowners
- If invited, inform who and how many people would come to visit
- Avoid doing things that would trouble or hurt the homeowners
- It is sunnah for guests to pray for the well-being of the homeowners. This is based on the Prophet PBUH’s actions when visiting the house of Ubadah bin Somit. And he brought bread and olive oil, and he ate (them). Then the Prophet PBUH said:
أَفْطَرَ عِنْدَكُمُ الصَّائِمُونَ ، وَأَكَلَ طَعَامَكُمُ الأَبْرَارُ ، وَصَلَّتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ
“May the fasting (men) break their fast with you, and the pious eat your food, and the angels pray for blessing on you.”
Sunan Abu Daud (3854)
- Do not stay or visit someone for too long that it would trouble the homeowners. The Prophet PBUH reminded us on this, he said:
منْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلْيُكْرِمْ ضَيْفَهُ جَائِزَتُهُ يَوْمٌ وَلَيْلَةٌ وَالضِّيَافَةُ ثَلَاثَةُ أَيَّامٍ فَمَا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَهُوَ صَدَقَةٌ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَهُ أَنْ يَثْوِيَ عِنْدَهُ حَتَّى يُحْرِجَهُ
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should serve his guest generously. 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. And it is not lawful for a guest to stay with his host for such a long period so as to put him in a critical position."
Sahih Al-Bukhari (6135)
- Choose appropriate times to visit. However, if there is a need for the visit to be at night such as in emergencies or asking for help then it is permitted. This is from a hadith:
مَنْ نَفَّسَ عَنْ مُؤْمِنٍ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ الدُّنْيَا نَفَّسَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ
"Whoever relieves a Muslim of a burden from the burdens of the world, Allah will relieve him of a burden from the burdens on the Day of Judgement.”
Sahih Muslim (4867) and Sunan Al-Tarmizi (1345)
As a conclusion, welcoming and honouring guests is one of the characteristics of a Muslim with noble character and are encouraged in Islam. Homeowners have the right to set the time for guests to visit his house. This is due to the fact that he has a right to his privacy and a right for his own time to rest with his family without anyone’s interruption. To those that are visiting, respect homeowners’ rights and visit during appropriate times unless if it’s an emergency or in asking for help. Obey the manners and guidelines stated above.
We hope this explanation answers your question. Wallahua’lam.