Muhammad
PBUH was also a very hospitable person. Even before he was raised
to the status of Prophethood, he was
known as a hospitable and generous man. Nobody ever went away
from him empty handed. He used to feed the poor, the needy,
the widows and orphans and was very popular among the people of
Makkah. In Medinah, his hospitality knew no bounds
and his house was open to all; rich and
poor, friend and foe, all came to him and were treated very
generously by him. People used to
come in large numbers from all
directions, and he
entertained them all and served them personally. Nobody ever went
back without having received something from him.
His
hospitality was not confined to Muslims alone, but was extended
to all human beings, irrespective of
caste or creed. Polytheists and Jews, all were his guests
and he entertained them all, without any distinction. When a
Christian deputation came from Abyssinia, he kept them in
his house and served them personally
throughout their stay. Once a polytheist was his guest. He
gave him the milk of one goat and he drank it all. He was given a
second goat's milk, which he drank as well. In this
way he drank the milk of seven goats but
Muhammad PBUH did not stop offering him milk until he was
satisfied. Sometimes it so happened that the guests
ate all that was available in the house and nothing was
left for the Prophet and his family to eat, so they had to
go without food that night. This was not an unusual occurrence
in the Prophet's house.. The poorest and
the most destitute among the companions were the As'hab
Suffah, who were the permanent guests of the Muslims. Most
of the time they were the guests of Muhammad. Once he said,
"Anyone who has enough food for two
persons should take three of them, he who has
enough for four should take five of them with him." Abu
Bakr took three of them with him while Muhammad PBUH took
ten of them with
him."
Abu Hurairah told a very
distressing story of his hunger and starvation. He was one
of the As'hab Suffah. He said, "One in. utter starvation, I
sat on the main highway. Abu Bakr passed that way and
I, to invite his attention to my humble state, asked
him about a verse of the Qur'an. He went by and did not take any
notice of my condition. The same thing happened with Umar, and
he also did not pay much attention to me. Then
God's Messenger came
along and, seeing me smiled and said,
'Come with me.' When he arrived home, he saw a cup of milk and
enquired about it. He was told that it was sent as a gift to him.
He asked me to bring all the people of the Suffah. I brought
them all with me. He gave me the cup of milk and asked me
to distribute it among them all."
Muhammad pbuh
was extremely hospitable and entertained all who came to his
house. He also taught his companions verbally as well
as by his practical example to be hospitable to all.
Allah Bless U all
with his mercy and blessings - Ameen.