Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) would accept the lawful invitations; but if there was going to be something against the approval of Allah at the invited place, he would not accept it. Anas b. Malik (r.a.) stated that the Prophet (pbuh) would not eat food at the tables of arrogant people, where luxurious utensils were used. (Bukhari, At’imah, 8)
The Prophet (pbuh) never joined the tables of arrogant and despot people, who saw their tables as a means of showing their superiority over others. Such people have always been the representatives of waste, luxury, vanity, and impertinence. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) especially stayed away from imitating such people and non-believers and commanded his followers to do the same.
Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) aimed to eliminate the gap between the poor and the wealthy and tried to provide equal opportunities to everybody in the society as much as possible. He regarded the means to achieve this goal very important and disapproved everything which might obstruct its achievement. One of such things is to invite the wealthy but not the poor to the feasts. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) expressed his disapproval in this regard as follows:
“The worst food is that of a wedding banquet to which only the rich are invited while the poor are not invited.” (Bukhari, Nikah, 72)
In short, accepting invitations is a very important prophetic custom and a social act of worship. Believers must pay attention to it just like all the other manners. However it is not permitted in Islam to accept invitations and attend to events which are organized against the orders of Allah and His Messenger (pbuh); because a believer’s object in every deed he/she performs is to attain Allah’s consent. He/she should stay away from everything contrary to this object.
R. Manners of Visiting
“My love is true and inevitable for those who do not cut their relations with their relatives and friends.” Ibn Hanbal, V, 229
It is the requirement of being a Muslim and the brotherhood of Islam to visit people and ask about their state. Allah the Almighty has declared all Muslims as brothers and ordered them to love and take care of each other. Visiting each other is one of the most significant ways to establish love amongst people. This is why Islam pays importance to it.
Visiting may be for various reasons, like sickness, holidays, birth, or death. There are also visits done just out of courtesy without any apparent reason. Through visits Muslims learn each other’s problems and needs and so they are able to help one another. They also get the chance to share each other’s opinions and experiences. Thus, they can confer their issues with each other and aid in making decisions. Hence people get the feeling that they are not alone in the community so that they can look into the future with hope and confidence. Seeing a believing brother beside one during their happy and sad moments becomes a source of peace and tranquility for them. This is why visiting friends and relatives consist of many benefits. For this reason, Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) always visited his companions. Qais b. Sa’d (r.a.) narrated one of the Prophet’s visits as follows:
“The Apostle of Allah (pbuh) came to visit us in our house, and said:
“Peace and Allah’s mercy be upon you!” My father Sa’d returned the greeting in a lower tone.
I said to my father:
“Do you not grant permission to the Apostle of Allah (pbuh) to enter?”
He said:
“Leave him, let him give us many greetings.” The Apostle of Allah (pbuh) then said:
“Peace and Allah’s mercy be upon you!” My father again responded in a lower tone. The Apostle of Allah (pbuh) said a third time:
“Peace and Allah’s mercy be upon you!” Then when the Apostle of Allah (pbuh) was going away, my father went after him and said:
“O Apostle of Allah! I heard your greetings and responded in a lower tone so that you might give us more greetings. The Apostle of Allah (pbuh) returned with him. My father then offered to prepare bath-water for him, and he took a bath. He then gave him a long wrap dyed with saffron or wars and he wrapped himself in it.
The Apostle of Allah (pbuh) then raised his hands and said:
“O Allah, bestow Your blessings and mercy on the family of Sa’d b. Ubadah!” The Apostle of Allah (pbuh) then shared their meals.
When he intended to return, my father brought him an ass which was covered with a blanket. The Apostle of Allah (pbuh) mounted it.
My father said:
“O Qays, accompany the Apostle of Allah.” I said:
“The Apostle of Allah (pbuh) told me to get on the ride.” But I refused.” Allah’s Apostle (pbuh) again said:
“Either ride or go back.” So I went back. (Abu Dawud, Adab, 127-128) In another narration, it was reported that Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) visited a family of Ansar, ate and performed prayer with them, and repeated supplications for them. (Bukhari, Adab, 65)
Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) commanded his ummah to visit the sick and brothers in Islam. In one of his sayings, the Prophet (pbuh) said that:
“Whoever visits a sick or a Muslim brother, a caller addresses him: “What a nice deed you did. For doing this deed, your walk’s reward became good, too. And you prepared a place in Paradise for yourself.” (Tirmidhi, Birr, 64)
Visits should be done for the sake of Allah not for a worldly benefit. Allah the Almighty states that He loves those who sincerely visit each other. In a qudsi saying of the Prophet (pbuh) it is stated that:
“For those who love each other for My sake, and for those who give charity for My sake, and for the righteous ones who sincerely love each other for My sake, and for those who do not cut their relations with their relatives and friends My love is true and inevitable” (Ibn Hanbal, V, 229)
It is possible to count the types of visits advised by Allah and His Messenger (pbuh) from the life of our excellent Exemplar, the Prophet (pbuh) as follows: