Page 187 - The Importance of the Ahl Al-Sunnah

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of Paradise.” He did not like food that was too hot; he would
wait for it to cool down of its own accord and then eat it.
The Prophet (saas) recommended that believers should
invite each other to eat together. Islamic scholars have
decreed that Muslims, unless they have a valid reason or
excuse, must accept an invitation from a fellow believer:
“When any one of you is invited to a feast, he should
accept.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, and al-
Tirmidhi)
Abu Hurayrah (ra) used to say: “One who does not come
to the feast disobeys Allah and His Messenger (saas).”
(Sahih al-Bukhari)
“When two people come together to issue an invitation,
accept the one belonging to the door that is nearer. But if
one of them comes before the other, accept the invitation
of the one who comes first.” (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 27,
Number 3747)
“He who presents himself for a meal without being invit-
ed is a fasiq, and it is unlawful for him to partake of the
food.” (al-Bayhaqi)
“Verily, there are lofty rooms in Paradise in which their
outside can be seen from inside and their inside from the
outside. They are for those who use soft speech, feed food
[to others], and spend the night in voluntary prayer while
people are asleep.” (al-Tirmidhi)
“Whoever feeds his brother in Islam the food he desires,
his sins will be forgiven. Whoever pleases his brother in
Islam pleases Allah.” (at-Tabarani)
It is an important aspect of a believer’s good manners to
treat the person who accepts an invitation with respect.

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