Monday, February 06, 2017

Etiquette of Visiting


As Salaamu Alaikum
Etiquette of Visiting
Visiting our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters when they are ill, in distress or after a tragedy is an excellent deed.

The Prophet said: "The dearest of people to Allah, may He be exalted, is the one who does most benefit to people, and the dearest of deeds to Allah, may He be exalted, is joy that you bring to a Muslim, or relieving him of distress, or paying off debt for him, or dispelling his hunger. And to walk with a brother to meet his needs is dearer to me than observing i‘tikaaf in this mosque – meaning the mosque of Madinah – for a month.”
(At-Tabaraani)

However there is a certain etiquette that we have to adhere to when visiting. Below listed are a few pertinent points to keep in mind:

*If the person is ill do not stay too long and be an inconvenience to them
*If they are sleeping don't wake them up, nor should you go into the room.
*Be patient if they take a while to open the door. Bear in mind that the females in the house probably walk around the house without their hijaab and need to put it on before they open the door. Also bear in mind that it sometimes takes a while to find the keys.
*If your host has served you refreshments do not refuse it. Someone went to the trouble of making tea/pouring juice and setting a plate for you.
*Don't ask nosy questions
*Don't make panchaat. Offer condolences, pray for the person and leave.
*If you are visiting the family of the deceased, pray for the deceased while there (make dhikr, read a para of Quraan, read a Yaseen, anything) don't just go there to eat
*How their house looks inside is not fodder for the panchaat (gossip) people. Understand that Allah has gifted/tested us all in different ways.
*If they serve you food don't sit and talk at the table, eat and get up so that others can too. Bear in mind that the family probably didn't eat yet and are probably hungry. It's not your kitchen table where you can converse long after you've eaten.
May Allah (swt) make us mindful of these etiquettes, Aameen

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