Muwatta Malik (Qasim)

Takhrij al-Hadith:
[وأخرجه البخاري 6135، من حديث مالك، ومسلم 48 بعد ح1762، من حديث سعيد المقبري به]

Jurisprudential Points:
➊ Honoring and respecting the neighbor is necessary.
➋ For the host, it is recommended to entertain the guest in the best manner for three days; after that, the host has discretion.
➌ On the subject of honoring the guest (hosting and respecting the guest), Hafiz Abu Ishaq Ibrahim bin Ishaq al-Harbi rahimahullah (d. 285 AH) wrote a book in which he brought one hundred and thirty-two hadiths with his chain of narration.
➍ Hafiz Ibn Abd al-Barr deduced from the word «جائزته» in this hadith that hosting the guest is not obligatory. See [التمهيد 21/42]
● In contrast to this, there is a hadith in which the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: «لیلة الضیف حق علیٰ کل مسلم فمن أصبح بفنائه فھو علیه دین إن شاء اقتضی وإن شاء ترك۔» Hosting for one night is a right upon every Muslim; then, whoever spends the night in his courtyard, it is a debt upon the household, whether he repays it or leaves it. [سنن ابي داود : 3750 وسنده صحيح]
This same narration is found in [سنن ابن ماجه 3677 وسنده قوي] with the words «ليلة الضيف واجبة۔» "Hosting for one night is obligatory."
➎ It is not permissible to stay as a guest at someone else's place for such a long period that the host becomes weary.
➏ The Book and the Sunnah teach moderation and balance.

Explanation:
1:
That is, for how many days should elaborate food be prepared for him.

2:
In this hadith, important matters related to hospitality and entertaining guests are mentioned.
Honoring and respecting the guest means that he should be welcomed with happiness,
he should be shown hospitality,
on the first day and night, arrangements should be made for elaborate food for him,
and thereafter, for three days, hospitality should be extended to him in the usual manner.
One should keep one's tongue engaged in the remembrance of Allah,
in repentance and seeking forgiveness, and in words of goodness, or, by avoiding useless and futile talk, keep it silent.

Benefits and Issues:
➊ One meaning of (ja’izah) has also been stated as follows: that when the guest departs, he should be given enough provision so that he can easily cover a journey of one day and night. (Fath al-Bari: 6135)

➋ It is obligatory for the guest to be considerate of the circumstances of his host and not to become a cause of harm or hardship for him.

➌ If the host requests or there is a situation of necessity, the guest may stay for more than three days; however, this service will be considered charity (sadaqah) from the host.

Benefits and Issues:

➊ Performing righteous deeds is a requirement of faith (iman).

➋ Due to frequent interaction with neighbors, there are greater chances of disagreements arising; therefore, one should pay extra attention to good conduct with neighbors so that conflicts and quarrels do not occur.

➌ A business partner, a nearby shopkeeper in the marketplace, a classmate or fellow student in an educational institution, a roommate or a student residing in the same building in a hostel, workers employed in the same factory, and other such individuals are also included under the ruling of “neighbor.”

➍ Honoring a guest means preparing food better than usual for him, taking care of his comfort and ease, not expressing displeasure at his arrival, and other such matters.

➎ Speaking thoughtlessly can lead to uttering sinful words, or saying something for which a person later feels ashamed; therefore, one should avoid unnecessary gossip.

➏ As a result of guarding the tongue, one pays more attention to remembrance (dhikr), recitation (tilawah), and similar acts, and thus increases in good deeds.

Benefits and Issues:

➊
It is obligatory to show hospitality to a guest for one day and night; however, this should be done according to one’s ability.

➋
It is also the guest’s right to be given food and accommodation in the house on the second and third day.

➌
The guest should not stay with the host for more than three days; however, if the host, due to close relationship or friendship, does not feel burdened by a longer stay or expresses a desire for the guest to stay longer, then it is also permissible to stay.

➍
To remain as a guest and eat and stay at someone’s house for more than three days is like eating charity (sadaqah), and a well-off person does not like to eat charity.

Hadith Commentary:
It is understood that faith (iman) necessitates that one should not harm the neighbor. The guest should be honored, and the tongue should be kept under control; otherwise, one should fear for the well-being of one’s faith (iman).

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
Great emphasis has been placed in the Shariah on guarding the tongue. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:
“A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand other Muslims are safe.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Iman, Hadith: 10)
On one occasion, Mu’adh radi Allahu anhu asked:
“O Messenger of Allah! Will we be held accountable for what we say?” He replied:
“O Mu’adh! May your mother lose you! Will anything cause people to be thrown on their faces into the Fire except the meaningless words their tongues utter?” (Musnad Ahmad: 237/2)
(2)
Even today it can be observed that the major sins which have become widespread like an epidemic, and from which very few remain safe, are mostly related to the tongue.
May Allah protect us from them.

Benefit:
In this hadith, the rights of the neighbor and the guest have been mentioned. Whoever does not fulfill the rights of the neighbor and the guest, it is as if he denies Allah and the Last Day.

Benefit:
In this hadith, the blameworthiness of such a guest is mentioned who stays with the host for so long that the host becomes distressed. Feeding the guest for three days is his right, but one should not fall into unnecessary formalities; whatever is available should be presented. However, some people have fabricated statements that even if one has to take a loan for the guest, it should be done—this is incorrect.