Lesson 62 Hospitality, Feasts and Food

Good manners of hospitality: Good hospitality without extravagance is a duty on every Muslim.

Invite the pious to one’s home, not the dissolute or impious people, and do not limit the invitation to the rich alone, since the aim should not be boasting.

It is an obligation to accept the invitation from the rich or the poor, unless there is a legitimate reason.

Be hospitable to the stranger for three days unless the host insists on more.

Good manners concerning feasts: Have a bath, apply perfume, and wear one’s best clothes.

Good manners concerning feasts: Muslims should congratulate each other.

Good manners concerning feasts: It is permissible to eat plentifully, drink and play within lawful limits.

Good manners concerning feasts: Eating is recommended before going to Al-Fitr Feast Prayer, and after performing Al-Ad-ha (the immolation) Feast Prayer.

Manners of consuming food and beverages: Food should be from a lawful source.

Manners of consuming food and beverages: Eating with the sincere intention of getting more capacity to obey Allah (SWT).

Manners of consuming food and beverages: All food and beverages are lawful for Muslims except those kinds that are harmful to the mind and body as prohibited by Allah and His Messenger (SAWS).

Prohibited meat: (a) Prohibited meat are carrion, that is the animal that died before the Muslim had the chance to slaughter it, such as this having been strangled, beaten to death, toppled to death, gored to death, and that eaten by wild beasts of prey

Prohibited food and drink: (b) Spilled blood

Prohibited food and drink: (c) The flesh, lard and blood of swine

Prohibited food and drink: (d) Beasts with fangs and birds with claws

Prohibited food and drink: (e) Mules and domesticated donkeys

Prohibited food and drink: (f) Whatever is slaughtered for the sake of idols, and whatever has been dedicated to other than Allah, the Almighty

Slaughtered animals: Sacrifices should be slaughtered according to the Shari`ah method of releasing blood by:

Slaughtering: (a) Using a sharp instrument

Slaughtering: (b) Cut the throat, esophagus and jugular veins simultaneously, but in the case of camels, they are stabbed in their throats.

Slaughtering: (c) The Name of Allah has to be mentioned when slaughtering and sacrificing.

Eating seafood and (hunting) game is permissible for everybody, but hunting is prohibited for the pilgrim in the area of the Haram (Sanctuary) while in a state of ritual consecration (Ihram).

It is lawful to eat animals slaughtered by the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) by mentioning the Name of Allah while eating. They are prohibited if they were not slaughtered properly or if a name of other than Allah was mentioned.

It is forbidden for Muslims to eat filthy food exposed to dirt, insects, rodents, or anything harmful.

Allah prohibited partaking of intoxicants, and this prohibition includes those who make them, transport them, cater for them, and trade them. This applies to alcoholic beverages and narcotics.

It is not permissible for a Muslim to approach any forbidden item unless it is essential to maintain life, and on the condition that he takes only the minimum that will not exceed the limit of necessity.

Evidence from the Qur ’ an and Sunnah

Good manners of hospitality: Allah says: ﴿ هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيْفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْمُكْرَمِينَ * إِذْ دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا سَلاماً قَالَ سَلامٌ قَوْمٌ مُّنكَرُونً * فَرَاغَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ فَجَاءَ بِعِجْلٍ سَمِينٍ ﴾ [ الذاريات : ]

This means: This means: “Has the story reached you, of the honored guests of Ibrahim (Abraham)? When they came in to him, and said, "Salam, (peace be upon you)!" He answered; "Salam, (peace be upon you)," and said: "You are a people unknown to me," Then he turned to his household, so brought out a roasted calf.” (Adh-Dhariyat : )

Who would you invite? The Prophet (SAWS) said: “Associate only with a believer, and let only a God-fearing man eat your meals.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “The worst food is that served at a wedding feast in which the rich are invited and the poor are abandoned.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

Accepting invitations: The Prophet (SAWS) said: “When anyone of you is invited to a feast, he should attend it.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “If I were invited to a shoulder or a shank (i.e. of a goat), I would respond (to the invitation). (And) if I were given, as a gift, a shoulder or a shank (of an animal), I would accept (it).” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “When anyone of you is invited to a meal, he should accept the invitation. If he is observing Sawm (fasting), he should supplicate for the betterment of the host and if he is not fasting, he should eat.” (Reported by Ahmad)

Hosting for three days: The Prophet (SAWS) said: “He who believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his guest according to his right. He was asked: What is his right, O Messenger of Allah? He (SAWS) replied, “It is (to honor him) for a day and a night, and hospitality extends for three days, and what is beyond that is charity.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

Manners of feasts: Jabir Ibn Nafir (RA) narrated: “When the Companions of the Prophet (SAWS) met each other on the day of `Id, they would say to each other, ‘Taqabbala Allahu Minna Wa Minkum’ (May Allah accept it from us and you).” (Reported by Al-Baihaqiyy)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The day of `Arafah, the day of Al-Adha (Sacrifice), the days of Tashriq are (the days of) our festival, O people of Islam. These are days of eating and drinking.” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i, and Abu Dawud)

Anas ibn Malik (RA) narrated: “When the Prophet (SAWS) came to Al- Madinah, he the people had two days on which they engaged in games. He asked: What are these two days (what is the significance)? They said: We used to engage ourselves on them in the pre- Islamic period.

The Prophet (SAWS) said: Allah has substituted for them something better than them, the day of Al-Ad-ha (Sacrifice) and the day of Al-Fitr (breaking the fast).” (Reported by an-Nasa’iyy)

`A’ishah (RA) narrated: “Abu-Bakr came to see me and I had two girls with me from among the girls of Ansar and they were singing what Ansar recited to one another at the Battle of Bu`ath. They were not, however, singing girls. Upon this, Abu-Bakr said: What is (the playing of) this wind instrument of Satan in the house of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and this too on `Id day?

Upon this, the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: Abu-Bakr, every people have a festival and it is our festival (so let them play on).” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim )

The Prophet (SAWS) used not to go out on the day of Id al-Fitr (lesser Bairam) until he eats. and not to eat on the day of Id al- Adha (greater Bairam) until he returns and eats from his sacrifice. (Reported by Ahmad)

Manners of consuming food and beverages: The lawful and the unlawful: Allah says: ﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِلّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ ﴾ [ البقرة : 172]

This means: “You who believe! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you with, and be grateful to Allah, if it is indeed He Whom you worship.” (Al-Baqarah: 172)

Allah says: ﴿ فَكُلُوا مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللهُ حَلاَلاً طَيِّباً وَاشْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ ﴾ [ النحل : 114]

This means: “So eat of the lawful and good food which Allah has provided for you. And be grateful for the Graces of Allah, if it is He Whom you worship.” (An-Nahl: 114)

And says: ﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لاَ تُحَرِّمُوا طَيِّبَاتِ مَا أَحَلَّ اللهُ لَكُمْ وَلاَ تَعْتَدُوا إِنَّ اللهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُعْـتَدِينَ * وَكُلُوا مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللهُ حَلاَلاَ طَيِّباً وَاتَّقُوا اللهَ الَّذِى أَنتُم بِهِ مُؤْمِنُونَ ﴾ [ المائدة : 87-88]

This means: “O you who believe! Make not unlawful the Tayyibat (all that is good) which Allah has made lawful to you, and transgress not. Verily, Allah does not like the transgressors. And eat of the things which Allah has provided for you, lawful and good, and fear Allah in Whom you believe.” (Al-Ma’idah: 87-88)

Allah says: ﴿ يَا بَنِي آدَمَ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا وَلا تُسْرِفُوا إِنَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِيِنَ * قُلْ مَنْ حَرَّمَ زِينَةَ اللهِ الَّتِى أَخْرَجَ لِعِبَادِهِ وَالطَّيِّباتِ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ قُلْ هِيَ للَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا خَالِصَةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ كَذَلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴾ [ الأعراف : 31-32]

This means: “O Children of Adam! Take your adornment while praying and going round (the Tawaf of) the Ka'bah, and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allah) likes not those who waste by extravagance. Say (O Muhammad SAWS): "Who has forbidden the adoration with clothes given by Allah, which He has produced for his slaves, and At-Tayyibat [all kinds of Halal (lawful) food]?"

Say: "They are, in the life of this world, for those who believe, (and) exclusively for them (believers) on the Day of Resurrection (the disbelievers will not share them)." Thus We explain the Ayat (Islamic laws) in detail for people who have knowledge.” (Al-A`raf: )

Prohibited meat: Allah says: ﴿ أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ صَيْدُ الْبَحْرِ وَطَعَامُهُ مَتَاعاً لَّكُمْ وَللِسَّيَّارَةِ وَحُرِّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ صَيْدُ الْبَرِّ مَا دُمْتُمْ حُرُماً وَاتَّقُوا اللهَ الَّذِي إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ [ [ المائدة : 96 ﴾

This means: “Lawful to you is (the pursuit of) water­ game and its use for food - for the benefit of yourselves and those who travel, but forbidden is (the pursuit of) land­game as long as you are in a state of Ihram (for Hajj or 'Umrah). And fear Allah to Whom you shall be gathered back.” (Al-Ma’idah: 96)

Allah says: ﴿ حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةُ وَالدَّمُ وَلَحْمُ الْخِنزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللهِ بِهِ وَالْمُنْخَنِقَةُ وَالْمَوْقُوذَةُ وَالْمُتَرَدِّيَةُ وَالنَّطِيحَةُ وَمَا أَكَلَ السَّبُعُ إِلاَّ مَا ذَكَّيْتُمْ وَمَا ذُبِحَ عَلَى النُّصُبِ وأَن تَسْتَقْسِمُوا بالأَزْلامِ ذَلِكُمْ فِسْقٌ الْيَوْمَ يَئِسَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِن دِينِكُمْ فَلاَ تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَاخْشَوْنِ الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلامَ دِينًا فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ فِي مَخْمَصَةٍ غَيْرَ مُتَجَانِفٍ لإِثْمٍ فَإِنَّ اللهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ [ [ المائدة : 3 ﴾

This means: “Forbidden to you (for food) are: the dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and the meat of that which has been slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah, or has been slaughtered for idols, etc., or on which Allah's Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering, and that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by the goring of horns -

and that which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal - unless you are able to slaughter it (before its death) ­ and that which is sacrificed (slaughtered) on an­ nusub (stone altars). (Forbidden) also is to use arrows seeking luck or decision, (all) that is disobedience of Allah and sin. This day, those who disbelieved have given up all hope of your religion, so fear them not, but fear Me.

This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But as for him who is forced by severe hunger, with no inclination to sin (such can eat these above-mentioned meats), then surely, Allah is Oft­Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Al-Ma’idah: 3)

And: ﴿ قُل لاَّ أَجِدُ فِي مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَىَّ مُحَرَّمًا عَلَى طَاعِمٍ يَطْعَمُهُ إِلاَّ أَن يَكُونَ مَيْتَةً أَوْ دَمًا مَّسْفُوحًا أَوْ لَحْمَ خِنزِيرٍ فَإِنَّهُ رِجْسٌ أَوْ فِسْقاً أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللهِ بِهِ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلاَ عَادٍ فَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴾ [ الأنعام : 145]

This means: “Say (O Muhammad SAWS): "I find not in that which has been inspired to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be a dead animal) or blood poured forth, or the flesh of swine (pork, etc.) for that surely is impure, or impious (unlawful) meat (of an animal) which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah (or has been slaughtered for idols, etc., or on which Allah's Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering).

But whosoever is forced by necessity without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, (for him) certainly, your Lord is Oft­Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Al-An`am: 145)

Allah says: ﴿ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةَ وَالدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ الْخِنزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ بِهِ لِغَيْرِ اللهِ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلاَ عَادٍ فَلاَ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّ اللهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴾ [ البقرة : 173]

This means: “He has forbidden you only dead animals, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah (or has been slaughtered for idols, on which Allah's Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering).

But if one is forced by necessity without wilful disobedience nor transgressing due limits, then there is no sin on him. Truly, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Al-Baqarah: 173)

Allah says: ﴿ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةَ وَالدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ الْخِنزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللهِ بِهِ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّغَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلاَ عَادٍ فَإِنَّ اللهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴾ [ النحل : 115]

This means: “He has forbidden you only the meat of dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and any animal which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah (or has been slaughtered for idols etc. or on which Allah's Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering).

But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, and non-transgressing then, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (An-Nahl: 115)

Slaughtered animals: The Prophet (SAWS) said when asked about slaughtering (the animals): “If the killing tool causes blood to gush out and if Allah's Name is mentioned, eat (of the slaughtered animal). But do not slaughter with a tooth or a nail.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “Slaughtering (is to be done) only in the upper part of the breast and the throat." (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

Games: The Prophet (SAWS) said to one of his Companions: “If you hunt an animal with your bow after mentioning Allah's Name, eat of it, and if you hunt something with your trained hound after mentioning Allah's Name, eat of it, and if you hunt something with your untrained hound (and get it before it dies) and slaughter it, eat of it.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “If you let loose your hound after a game and mention Allah's Name on sending it, and the hound catches the game and kills it, then you can eat of it. But if the hound eats of it, then you should not eat thereof, for the hound has caught it for itself.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) said about the embryo: “Eat it if you wish, for the slaughter of its mother serves its slaughter.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Two types of dead animals and two types of blood have been made lawful for us. The types of dead animals are seafood and locusts. The two types of blood are the (blood of the) liver and the spleen.” (Reported by Ibn-Majah and Ahmad)

Alcoholic beverages: Allah says: ﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ والأَنصَابُ وَالأَزْلامُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ * إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَن يُوقِعَ بَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَاءَ فِي الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ اللهِ وَعَنِ الصَّلاةِ فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّنتَهُونَ﴾ [ المائدة : 90-91]

This means: “O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), gambling, stone altars, and arrows for seeking luck or decision are an abomination of Shaytan's (Satan) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful.

Shaytan (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinders you from the remembrance of Allah and from as-salah (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain?” (Al-Ma’idah: )

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “Every intoxicant is Khamr (wine) and every intoxicant is forbidden.” (Reported by Muslim)

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “Every intoxicant is forbidden.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “If anyone drinks wine, Allah will not accept prayer from him for forty days.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “Allah has cursed wine, its drinker, its server, its seller, its buyer, its presser, the one for whom it is pressed, the one who conveys it, and the one to whom it is conveyed.” (Reported by Abu-Dawud)

The Prophet (SAWS) said, “Allah has not made your cure in what he has made unlawful to you" (Reported by Al-Bukhariyy)

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “Allah has sent down both the disease and the cure, and He has appointed a cure for every disease, so treat yourselves medically, but use nothing unlawful.” (Reported by Abu-Dawud)