Making a Special Effort for Ones Guest

The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘It is enough of a sin for a man to deem that which brings him close to his fellow brothers as burdensome, and it is enough of a sin for a people to deem burdensome that which draws a fellow brother close to them.

The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘No one should go to troubles that they cannot afford for a guest.

Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘If your brother comes to your house [uninvited] then offer him whatever you have in the house, and if you invite him, then make a special effort for him.

Imam al-Rida (AS) narrated, ‘A man once invited the Commander of the Faithful, Ali (AS) for a meal, so Imam said to him, ‘I will accept your invitation provided you fulfil three conditions. The man asked, ‘And what are they, O Commander of the Faithful? to which he replied, ‘Do not bring any special food from outside for me, do not preserve anything in the house especially for me, and do not impose any difficulty on your family. The man replied, ‘You shall have that O Commander of the Faithful and Ali b. Abi Talib accepted his invitation.