with an entire roasted animal. Part of honoring such a guest is also to invite your neighbors and the like. Others are less demanding. The point is that the Prophet ﷺ did not restrict the command to honor a guest to any specific form; he left it absolute, to be defined by whatever people customarily regard as hospitality.

He then said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should maintain his ties of kinship,” and in another narration: “Let him honor his neighbor; let him maintain his kinship.” The womb-ties (ar-raḥim) are one’s relatives, and the nearer the relative, the more binding his right. A person is therefore obliged to uphold these ties. The Prophet ﷺ did not specify how one should do so; that too is referred back to common practice. Some relatives are maintained by visiting them and showing personal courtesy; others by giving them money because they are in need; still others by offering them food or clothing—each according to his circumstances. What matters is that you honor your relatives in whatever way counts as honoring them.

For example, if your relative is wealthy and generous, sending him a plate of food would be inappropriate; you honor him by visiting him, speaking kindly, and the like. If your relative is poor, a platter of food is dearer to him than anything else, so send him that. If your relative is in financial straits, it is better to send him money. And so forth—every person is honored in the manner that suits his situation.

Thirdly, he said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or…"