The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, explained the limits of hosting a guest

Under category: How He treated them?

Abu Shurayh (a Companion) narrated that the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his neighbor with what he should be given.” They said: “What is that, O Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam?” He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: “His day and night, and hosting a guest is for three days, anything after that is charity upon him. It is not permissible for a Muslim man to stay with his brother until he makes him sinful.” They asked: “O Messenger of Allah, how does he make him sinful?” He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “To stay with his host when he does not have anything to provide him with.”

This shows that the guest or stranger has rights upon the person he stays with, and they are three levels: the obligatory right, the praiseworthy deed, and charity. The obligatory right is the night and day, the praiseworthy deed is three days, and anything above that is considered charity.

The “guest” that it is obligatory to provide with food and lodging and has a right over his host, is one who is a traveler from a different town or country. As for a visitor from the same town, there is no doubt that treating him well and feeding him falls under the general order to feed others and treat them well. However, he is not the guest that the Prophetof Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, obligated honoring.

It is not permissible to be a burden upon the host by staying with him more than three days, for the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:

“It is not permissible for him to stay with him until he causes hardship upon him.”

Meaning it is not permissible for the guest to stay at a person’s home after three days, unless the owner of the home asks him to stay