to them—whether it be drink or food—just as Abraham (peace be upon him) did, for Allah says: “So he slipped away to his family and brought a fat, roasted calf, then set it before them and said, ‘Will you not eat?’ ” (Q 51:26-27). Hence, the host should place the food before the guests, hand them their drinks, and be the last of the group to partake.

A further question arises: Is it better for the host to withdraw and not share the meal—be it lunch, dinner, or breakfast—or should he stay and join them? The answer depends on local custom. If his sitting with them is more pleasing to the guests and makes them feel at ease, he ought to eat with them. But if the prevailing custom is that the host does not eat with his guests, then he should refrain. In all cases, the matter goes back to convention: if people regard it as part of honoring the guest that the host not eat with him and instead leave him free to eat as he wishes, then the host should not eat; but if the opposite is true, then he should eat.

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his guest.” He did not specify the form that this honoring must take, so its details are left to what people commonly regard as honorable.