Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books One Hundred And Fifty Lessons For Life Lesson One Hundred Forty Eight: Importance of A Guest The Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) said: اِذا اَرادَ اللّهُ بِقَوْم خَيْراً أَهْدَى اِلَيْهِمْ هَدِيَّةً. قالُوا وَ ما تِلْكَ الْهَدِيَّة؟ قالَ: اَلضَّيْفُ Translation When God wills happiness and prosperity for a nation, he will bestow on them a gift. They asked: ‘what is that gift’. He replied: a ‘guest’. [^1] Brief Description That is true.
Guest is a gift from God, a valuable and honorable gift. However, material world in which all affections are lost, has no value for a guest. It treats him as troublesome and strange and unwelcome. So it rarely happens that someone invites another or gets invited unless there is a selfish reason relating to business or wealth or politics.
In Islamic countries and families in which religious customs are still alive, a guest is honored and respected as a divine gift notwithstanding the absence of family relationship or any ulterior motives. [^1]: Bihar al-Anwar, volume 15, page 241. Jami' Al-Akhbar, page 136. Previous Next