Hospitality: The Adab of Honouring Your Guest
Honouring a guest is a trait of faith itself. How to welcome, honour and see off your guest, and what befits the guest too.
Honouring the Guest Is Part of Faith
Hospitality is among the noblest of manners and the clearest sign of a generous soul, so much so that the Prophet ﷺ made it a mark of faith:
Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him honour his guest.
Agreed upon; al-Bukhari & Muslim
Verified against the sourceIslam made honouring the guest part of faith, and gave it adab in welcome, hospitality and farewell, by which the host honours his guest and completes his generosity.
The Adab of the Host
- Welcome them warmly. The first hospitality is a cheerful face.
- Seat them in the best place. Let them feel awaited and honoured.
- Hasten the meal. Serving food promptly is part of honouring the guest.
- Offer the best you have, within your means. Without burdening yourself.
- Serve them yourself. In serving your guest there is humility and generosity.
- Be good to them throughout their stay. Mind their comfort without causing embarrassment.
- See them to the door. A gracious farewell completes a gracious welcome.
The Guest Has Adab Too
As the host has adab, so does the guest: to answer the invitation when invited, to seek permission and not arrive unannounced, to thank what is offered, and not to overstay until the host is put out.
Hospitality Begins Before the Door
Honour begins before the guest knocks, with a gracious invitation that tells them they are meant and awaited. In invi2 you craft an invitation worthy of your guests and follow their RSVPs from the first, so your welcome starts well before the day itself.
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Design Your Invitation
Honour your guests from the first link: an elegant living invitation, RSVP by a touch, and every detail of time and place at your guest's fingertips.