The Hospitality of Ibrāhīm

After the first surprise and astonishment of the angels' visit, there is another thing told here. Every time Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him) is spoken of, and the visitation of the angels, there is the matter of his offering hospitality, of his providing food. He goes at once and fetches a roast.

This is held to be the sunnah of Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him): to show hospitality. And the way of hospitality is that when guests come you do not say: will you have some tea? True hospitality is that you simply bring it and set it before them. If they wish to drink it, they drink it; they have it, they take it; and if they do not, then do not be put out. You do your part.

We have many difficulties here. There is the one who says: do you want something? And people are embarrassed to say so, though in many cases they do want it. Or we bring something, and then they must eat it; they must eat it; and if they do not, some will even swear that their wives are divorced if they do not eat it. So people go to extremes in it. And there are adab for guests as well.