Sahih Muslim Hadith 5359 – Honoring Guests

English

[5359] 172 – (2054) It was narrated that Abü Hurairah said: "A man came to the Messenger of Allah and said: 'I am starving.' He sent word to one of his wives and she said: 'By the One Who has sent you with the truth, I do not have anything but water.' Then he sent word to another of his wives, and she said something similar, until all of them had said that: 'No, by the One Who has sent you with the truth, I do not have anything but water.' He said: 'Who will host this man tonight, and Allah will have mercy on him?' An AnsârI man stood up and said: 'I will, 0 Messenger of Allah.' He took him to his house and said to his wife: 'Do you have anything?' She said: 'No, only the food for my children.' He said: 'Distract them with something, then when our guest comes in, extinguish the lamp and make him think that we are eating. Then when he wants to eat, go to the lamp and extinguish it.' They sat and the guest ate, and the following morning he went to the Prophet , who said: 'Allah is pleased with what you two did for your guest last night."