This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi's book Sahih Fazail-e-Amaal.
Allah Almighty says: ﴿وَجَاءَهُ قَوْمُهُ يُهْرَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَمِن قَبْلُ كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ ۚ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ بَنَاتِي هُنَّ أَطْهَرُ لَكُمْ ۖ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُخْزُونِ فِي ضَيْفِي ۖ أَلَيْسَ مِنكُمْ رَجُلٌ رَّشِيدٌ﴾
"And the people of his nation came rushing to him, and they were already doing evil deeds. Lot said: O my people! These are my daughters; they are purer for you. So fear Allah and do not disgrace me concerning my guests. Is there not a single right-minded man among you?"
Reference: (11-Hud:78)
﴿هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيْفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْمُكْرَمِينَ. إِذْ دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا سَلَامًا ۖ قَالَ سَلَامٌ قَوْمٌ مُّنكَرُونَ . فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِ فَجَاءَ بِعِجْلٍ سَمِينٍ.﴾
"O my Prophet! Have you heard about the honored guests of Abraham when they came to him? They greeted him, Abraham returned their greeting, and in his heart he said, 'These are strangers.' Then he quietly ran to his family and brought a roasted, fat, fresh calf."
Reference: (51-Adh-Dhariyat:24 to 26)
From these verses, it is understood that hospitality is the Sunnah of the Prophets, as mentioned regarding Sayyiduna Lot and Sayyiduna Abraham, peace be upon them. Since a guest comes to the host, he is under the host’s protection. If any harm befalls the guest or the guest is harmed, it causes disgrace to the host. Therefore, both great personalities demonstrated excellent character by treating their guests with kindness.
Sayyiduna Abu Shuraih Al-Adawi, may Allah be pleased with him, said that he saw with his own eyes and heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say:
من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فليكرم ضيفه جائزته . قالوا: وما جائزته يا رسول الله؟ قال: يومه وليلته، والضيافة ثلاثة أيام، فما كان وراء ذلك فهو صدقة عليه .
"Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his guest and fulfill his right." The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them all, asked: O Messenger of Allah! What is his right? He, peace be upon him, said: "One day and one night (i.e., prepare the best food according to one’s ability), and hospitality is for three days; whatever is beyond that is charity."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Manners, Chapter: Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbor, No. 6019. Sahih Muslim, Book of Lost Property, Chapter: Hospitality, Nos. 4513 to 4515.
عن أبى هريرة رضى الله عنه أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فليكرم ضيفه، ومن كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فليصل رحمه، ومن كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فليقل خيرا أو ليصمت .
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his guest. And whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should maintain ties of kinship. And whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Manners, Chapter: Honoring and Serving the Guest, No. 6138. Sahih Muslim, Book of Faith, Chapter: Encouragement to honor neighbors and guests and to remain silent except for good, No. 47.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Salam, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
يا أيها الناس! أفشوا السلام، وأطعموا الطعام، وصلوا والناس نيام تدخلوا الجنة بسلام .
"O people! Spread peace, feed the hungry, and pray when others are asleep, and you will enter Paradise in peace."
Reference: Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Book of the Description of the Resurrection, Chapter: Hadith on spreading peace, No. 2485. Sunan Ibn Majah, Nos. 1334 and 3251.
Al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, declared it "Sahih."
