سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه عَزَّوَجَلَّ! What great passion the blessed companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم had for obeying the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and what great yearning they had to adopt every blessed practice of the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Look at the state of their devotional love for the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم that whatever Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would like, they would also make it a part of their liking too. So what would be the state of obedience upon the matters that the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would command for? In this relation, let’s listen to a few beautiful parables about the obedience of the blessed companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم to the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم:

Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah’s practice upon the blessed saying of the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

Once a beggar came to Umm-ul-Mu`mineen, Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا. She رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا gave him a piece of Roti. Then a well-dressed person came, she رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا gave him food after having him seated. People asked the reason for the different treatments. She رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا said, ‘The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘اَنۡزِلُو النَّاسَ مَنَازِلَهُمۡ’, treat every person according to his status. (Sunan Abi Dawood, vol. 4, pp. 343, Hadees 4842)

Types of hospitality and its requirements

Dear Islamic brothers! From this action of Umm-ul-Mu`mineen, Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا, we have come to know that hospitality to people and their respect and reverence should be shown according to their status and rank. Every guest should be treated according to his status. Some guests stay for only an hour or two and leave after having tea etc., and for some guests, special arrangements for meal have to be made; there are some guests whom we invite ourselves to the wedding ceremonies, ‘Aqeeqahs, etc., in which equal arrangements for sitting and serving food without differentiating between poor and rich should be made. It shall not be the case that the rich and affluent people enjoy very luxurious meals in an awe-inspiring manner whereas poor and middle-class people are served with ordinary food. This shall not be done at all as it hurts the feelings of Muslims.