Muhammad 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 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 Ashab
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 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 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.
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