It is said that even the Prophet (S)...

It is said that even the Prophet (S), standing outside the door, asked his daughter, Fatimah (as), to enter her house when he wanted to go into it. Once when he wanted to go in, Jabir-ibn-‘Abdillah was with the Prophet (S), then after that he (S) asked permission for him to enter, he (S) asked permission for Jabir, too. Moreover, when some people are invited for a meal, they must be punctual and do not bother the landlord out of place.

Then the verse refers to the second ordinance, saying: “…But when you are invited, enter, and, when your meal is ended, then disperse…” In fact, this ordinance is as an emphasis and complimentary for the previous ordinance. You should neither enter a house out of place when you have been invited for it, nor ignore the invitation, nor stay there for a long time after eating the meal.

It is evident that contrasting these affairs causes trouble for the host and it does not agree with the principles of ethics. For the third ordinance, the verse implies that you should not form a meeting of conversation in the house of the holy Prophet (S), nor in any other host’s house. It says: “…neither lingering for conversation…” Of course, sometimes it happens that the host is willing to have such a meeting of conversation; in this case it is an exception.

These wards are about the case that the invitation is for only eating food, not for forming the meeting of conversation. In such a place, after eating the meal, meeting must be left, specially that the house is that of the Prophet (S), the centre of accomplishing the greatest divine missions, and some troublesome affairs must not occupy his time.

Then, the Holy Qur’an states the reason of this ordinance as follows: “…verily this annoys the Prophet, and he is ashamed before you, but Allah is not ashamed before the truth…” Of course, concerning the instances that had not a personal and private nature, the Prophet of Allah (S) never refused to say the truth, while to state the right of persons from the side of them is not so fair, but it is interesting and beautiful when it is said from the side of others, and the case in the verse is of this kind.

The ethical principles required that the Prophet (S) would not defend himself, but Allah defended him.