The story of a husband and wife who fight because they want to honor guests

 

The story of a husband and wife who fight because they want to honor guests

Honoring guests is part of Islamic teachings. In the teachings of Islam itself, receiving and honoring guests is something recommended by the Prophet Muhammad. as he said:

مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللهِ وَاليَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيُكْرِمْ ضَيْفَهُ

Meaning: Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his guest . (HR Muslim).

Regarding honoring this guest, a husband and wife had a fight. As explained by Ibn Khalikan in the book Wafayat al-A'yan , that Haitsam bin Ady one time left his family to visit his brothers' village.

Haitsam bin Ady went with a camel. Suddenly the camel ran away. He was looking for it until the evening, until finally found the camel in a house. It turned out that the house belonged to a Bedouin Arab couple. Seeing his camel there, he came to him.

Haitsam came to the house and was immediately greeted by a woman who owned the house. To Haitham, the woman said, " Who are you? ”

" Guest ", replied Haitsam briefly.

Hearing this answer, the woman again said, " Why do guests come to us. Isn't the Sahara desert vast? ”

Shortly after saying these words, the woman went to get some wheat, then pounded it and made cake dough, then she made cakes. After the cake was finished, the woman sat down and ate it without offering Haitsam at all.

Not long after, the woman's husband came with milk. Seeing Haitsam's figure, he asked, " Who is this man? ”

" Guest ", replied Haitsam briefly.

Hearing Haitsam's words, the husband said, " Welcome. May Allah glorify you ". The husband then went into the house and poured milk into a cup, then gave it to Haitsam. Saying, " Drink. ”

After getting a drink, the husband again said to Haitsam, " I saw you did not eat anything, and I saw my wife did not give you anything. ”

The husband then entered the house and was angry with the wife, " Woe to you. You eat and leave your guests alone. ”

Seeing the husband angry, the wife replied, " What should I do? Shall I give him my food? ”

The husband and wife had a fight. Not long after, the husband took a machete and went out towards Haitsam's camel. He then slaughtered the camel.

Haitsam who saw was shocked, and asked, " What have you done? ”

The husband then replied, “ I don't want to let my guest starve. ”

After slaughtering the camel, the husband then collects firewood and starts a fire. He grilled the camel meat and gave it to Haitsam. He also ate it and gave it to his wife, saying, “ Eat, Allah gives you food. ”

After the morning came, the husband left Haitsam. Haitsam who saw this condition was upset. When the day came, the husband came back with a camel that was never boring to look at. To Haitsam, the husband said, " This is in exchange for your camel. While giving the rest of the camel meat to him.

After the incident, Haitsam went on his way. When night came, he stopped at another house.

At the house he was staying at, he immediately said hello. And from inside the house, a woman's voice answered her greeting, saying, " Who are you? ”

“ Guest. Haitham replied.

Hearing Haitsam's answer, the woman who owns the house then said, " Welcome. Hurrying off to fetch wheat, then grind and make dough, and bake cakes drenched in yogurt and milk. Then it was served to Haitham and said, " Eat. ”

Not long after, a Bedouin Arab man came who was the husband of the friendly woman. The man came to say hello, and asked Haitsam, " Who are you? ”

Haitsam replied, " Guest. ”

Seeing a guest, the husband wondered, " what are guests doing at our place?. ” As he entered the house, he again asked his wife, “ Where is my food? ”

His wife replied, " I have given it to the guest. ”

Hearing this, the husband immediately became angry and said, " You give my food to guests? ". They both had a fight, even the husband had the heart to beat his wife with a stick.

Seeing this incident, Haitsam laughed. Seeing Haitsam laughing, the husband immediately approached him and asked, " What makes you laugh? ”

" Kindness ", replied Haitsam.

Out of curiosity, the man said to Haitsam, " Tell me. ”

Haitsam then told details about a husband and wife whom he met earlier. Where the husband and wife also quarreled because they wanted to honor guests.

Hearing the story from Haitsam, the man said, " This wife of mine is the brother's sister, while the man's wife is my sister. ”

Hearing this answer, Haitsam was surprised. And finally left the area.

Glorifying guests is a virtue, but too many people ignore it. In addition to the wisdom about the importance of honoring guests, the two stories above also provide another important lesson. This lesson is in line with the adage that the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree. Or the nature of a child is not much different from his parents and family, as the two stories above.