Since the inception of Jalsa Salana, the Promised Messiah^(as) was at the very heart of serving the guests of Allah, as we read in yesterday post. In fact, hospitality was a great and continuous focus of the Promised Messiah’s^(as) teaching.

In a Friday Sermon, on 18 July 2008, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper, highlighted the importance of hospitality in light of the teachings and example presented by the Promised Messiah^(as). We have selected a few extracts and incidents for our Alislam readers.

Hazrat Amirul Momineen^(aa) quoted the Promised Messiah^(as) who said:

 “The in charge of the Langar Khana [kitchen] should be informed that the need of every guest should be kept in mind.”

He^(as) also stated:

“The heart of a guest is like that of a mirror, with a mere knock, it shatters.”

Huzoor^(aa) narrated that the Promised Messiah^(as) said:

“I give permission for any [guest] to present their needs before me – some are ill and therefore need separate catering.”

Huzoor^(aa), in his Friday Sermon also read out various incidents narrated by companions that portrayed the great example of hospitality set by the Promised Messiah^(as) for us all.

A knock on the window

Hazrat Maulwi Abdullah Sanuri sahib^(ra) narrates:

Hazrat Maulwi Abdullah Sanuri^(ra)

“The Promised Messiah was laying down in Baitul Fikr, a small room situated besides Masjid Mubarak, and I was massaging him. Lala Sharam Pat or Malawa’alam knocked on the window of the room. I was about to stand and open the window but the Promised Messiah^(as) instantly and very quickly stood up and unlocked the chain before I could. Hethen sat down and said ‘You are our guest and the Holy Prophet^(sa) has said that guests should be respected.’”

Milk, Biscuits and a long walk

Mir Hamid Ali Shah Siyalkoti narrates an incident regarding himself. He said that once, after staying in Qadian, he requested leave from the Promised Messiah^(as). However, the Promised Messiah^(as) sent a message to him asking to wait a little. Suddenly, he saw the Promised Messiah^(as) come out of his home with a jug full of milk, a glass and some sugar. He asked for Shah sahib’s whereabout and upon seeing him asked Shah sahib to sit. The Promised Messiah^(as) would fill the glass with milk, stir in some sugar and ask Shah sahib to drink. When the third glass of milk was filled, Shah sahib said “Huzoor, I am full”, upon this the Promised Messiah^(as) said “drink some more”. The Promised Messiah^(as) then took a pack of biscuits out of his pocket and said to Shah sahib, “Keep these, in case you are hungry during the journey”. Then, for a great distance the Promised Messiah^(as) accompanied Shah sahib during his journey outside of Qadian, despite Shah sahib insisting that he was able to continue himself.

An old photo of Qadian

“Eat, I shall bring water”

Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq^(ra)

Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq sahib^(ra) narrates:

“I came from Lahore to Qadian. Upon seeing me, the Promised Messiah^(as) said  ‘sit I shall bring you food’, I assumed a servant would bring the food. To my surprise, I see the Promised Messiah^(as) himself bringing a tray of food for me. When he saw me, he said ‘begin to eat, I shall bring water for you’. Without control, tears began to flow from my eyes – thinking, if Hazrat sahib^(as) whilst being our leader serves us like this, then how much more responsibility do we have in serving one another.”

Without a blanket

Hazrat Munshi Zafar Ali sahib^(ra) narrates that once during Jalsa Salana a great number of people were present who had no bedding to sleep with. A man, Nabi Baksh, begun to take out bedding from inside and distributed them amongst the guests. After Isha prayer he went to the Promised Messiah^(as) and saw him seated with his arms crossed with thin cloth over himself. He said that he found out the Promised Messiah^(as) had also given his own bedding for the guests. Upon this Munshi sahib said to the Promised Messiah^(as), “it is cold, and you do not have any bedding”. Upon this the Promised Messiah^(as) said

“the guests should not be given any disturbance, it does not matter about me, the night shall pass.”

Later, companions made arrangements for bedding and presented it before the Promised Messiah^(as) but the Promised Messiah^(as) said to give it to the guests instead.