Ḍiyâfa – Hospitality

(15) Ḍiyâfa – Hospitality

Hospitality is a practice which is considered very important by Muslims. It was already a characteristic of Arabia at the time of Muhammad. In pre-Islamic Arab society giving proof of liberality, even to excess, was a mark of the great leader. This is still true today of Arab society, whether Christian or Muslim, where the guest will be honoured by an abundance of specially prepared dishes.

As does the Bible, so does the Qur’an portray Abraham as a most hospitable person.  The biblical narrative can be found in Genesis 18:1-15. Here is one of the qur’anic versions:

     To Abraham Our messengers brought good news. They said, “Peace”. He answered “Peace”, and           without delay he brought in a roasted calf. When he saw that their hands did not reach out towards

     the meal, he found this strange and became afraid of them. But they said, “Do not be afraid. We

     have been sent against the people of Lot.” His wife was standing [nearby] and laughed. We gave

     her good news of Isaac and, after him, of Jacob. She said, “Alas for me! How am I to bear a child         when I am an old woman, and my husband here is an old man? That would be a strange thing!”           They said, “Are you astonished at what God ordains? The grace of God and His blessings be upon you, people of this house! For He is worthy of all praise and glory” (Q 11:69-73).

(This story is told again in Q 15: 51-60 and Q 51:24-34, and it is alluded to in Q 29:31.)

In the passage reproduced above, we see that Abraham becomes suspicious when his visitors do not dip into the dish prepared for them. This is because they are angels who do not need human food, but Abraham does not know this and he takes their refusal of the food as a sign of enmity. Despite his suspicion, Abraham is considered a model of generosity. We find something similar in the Christian Scriptures. With an obvious reference to the story of Abraham, the Letter to the Hebrews gives the following exhortation:

    Continue to love each other like brothers [and sisters], and remember always to welcome strangers,

    for by doing this some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

                                                                                                 (Heb. 13:1-2)

The first model of generosity is God. In fact this is proclaimed in what is recognized by all as the first passage of the Qur’an chronologically speaking:

            Proclaim! Your Lord is the Most Bountiful One (Q 96:3).

The Arabic word translated here as “the Most Bountiful One” is al-akram, the superlative of the adjective karîm which means both “noble” and “generous”. 

In the Gospels encouragement is given to be generous like God:

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful… give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back (Luke 6:36-38).

In Arabic-speaking countries one often sees, during this month, banners wishing people Ramaḍân karîm. During this month of Ramadan let us ask the Generous God to pour down his richest blessings on all of our Muslim brothers and sisters, and may we who are accompanying them be also blessed.