Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (15/49)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

Honoring a guest is according to what custom dictates, and this varies according to both the guest and the host. As for the host, this is due to Allah’s saying:

“Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth, and whoever’s provision is restricted, let him spend from what Allah has given him.” [al-Talaq 65:7]

Thus, if someone stays as a guest with a wealthy man, he should honor him according to the abundance Allah has granted him; but if he stays with a poor man, he should honor him according to his means. A guest may stay with a wealthy person, whose hospitality consists of slaughtering an animal for him and inviting those around him; while he may stay with another, whose hospitality consists of offering him a dish of dates, because the former has wealth whereas the latter is poor.

The same applies with regard to the guest, for guests are not all alike. A guest who is a friend, with whom there is no formality between you, may stay with you, and you honor him in a manner befitting him. Then a guest of high standing among people may stay with you, whether by virtue of his wealth, his knowledge, or his authority, and you honor him in a manner befitting him. Or a person from the ordinary public may stay with you, and you likewise honor him in a manner befitting him.

Part of honoring the guest, too, is not to calculate the cost of his hospitality for him, as Abraham, peace be upon him, did. When the angels came to Abraham, peace be upon him, he went quietly and swiftly to his household. The scholars said: he set off quickly and discreetly so that they would not say anything, since it is customary for a guest, when the host wishes to honor him, to begin swearing: “By Allah, do not do such-and-such; do not do such-and-such.” So Abraham went swiftly and discreetly, and brought a fat roasted calf.

Some people offer hospitality, but when they serve the meal, they say: “Please, help yourselves. By Allah, we could not find this meat today for less than ten per kilogram,” or, “Meat is expensive today—but you are worthy of it!” This involves reminding the guest of one’s favor.

وإكرام الضيف بما جرت به العادة يختلف باختلاف الضيف والمضيف، فأما المضيف فلقوله تعالى: ﴿لِيُنْفِقْ ذُو سَعَةٍ مِنْ سَعَتِهِ وَمَنْ قُدِرَ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقُهُ فَلْيُنْفِقْ مِمَّا آتَاهُ اللَّهُ﴾ [الطلاق: ٧]، فإذا نزل شخص ضيفاً على رجلٍ غني، فإنه يكرمه بما وسَّع الله عليه، وإذا نزل بإنسان فقير فيكرمه بما قدر عليه، فقد ينزل هذا الرجل على شخص غني، ويكون إكرامه بأن يذبح له ذبيحة، ويدعو مَنْ حوله، وقد ينزل على آخر ويكون إكرامه له أن يقدم له صحناً من التمر؛ لأن الأول عنده مال، وهذا فقير. كذلك باعتبار الضيف، فالضيوف ليسوا على حد سواء، ينزل بك ضيف، صاحب لك، ليس بينك وبينه شيء من التكلف فتكرمه بما يليق به، وينزل عليك ضيف كبير عند الناس في ماله، وفي علمه، أو في سلطانه، فتكرمه بما يليق به، وينزل عليك شخص من سِطَة الناس تكرمه ـ أيضاً ـ بما يليق به. ومن الإكرام ـ أيضاً ـ أن لا تقدِّر عليه قِراه كما فعل إبراهيم ﵊، فإبراهيم ﵇ لما نزل به الملائكة راغ إلى أهله، قال العلماء: انطلق مسرعاً بخفية، حتى لا يقولوا شيئاً؛ لأنه جرت العادة أن الضيف إذا أراد المضيف أن يكرمه قام يحلف: والله لا تفعل كذا، ولا تفعل كذا، فإبراهيم ذهب مسرعاً بخفية، وجاء بعجل حنيذ سمين، وبعض الناس يكرم، ثم إذا قدم الغداء يقول: تفضل، والله ما وجدنا هذا اللحم اليوم إلا الكيلو بعشرة، أو اللحم غالٍ اليوم، لكن أنتم أهل لذلك! وهذا فيه مِنّةٌ.