عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ جَارًا، لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَارِسِيًّا كَانَ طَيِّبَ الْمَرَقِ فَصَنَعَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ جَاءَ يَدْعُوهُ فَقَالَ ” وَهَذِهِ ” . لِعَائِشَةَ فَقَالَ لاَ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” لاَ ” فَعَادَ يَدْعُوهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” وَهَذِهِ ” . قَالَ لاَ . قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” لاَ ” . ثُمَّ عَادَ يَدْعُوهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” وَهَذِهِ ” . قَالَ نَعَمْ . فِي الثَّالِثَةِ . فَقَامَا يَتَدَافَعَانِ حَتَّى أَتَيَا مَنْزِلَهُ
It was narrated that Anas radiallahu anhu said:
Anas reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) had a neighbour who was Persian (by descent), and he was expert in the preparation of soup. He prepared (soup) for Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and then came to him to invite him (to that feast). He (Allah’s Messenger) said:
Here is ‘A’isha also (and you should also invite her to the food). He said: No. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) also said: No (then I cannot join the feast). He returned inviting him, and Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: She is also there (i. e. ‘A’isha should also be invited). He said: No. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) also said: No (and declined his offer). He returned again to invite him and Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) again said: She is also there. He (the host) said:” Yes” for the third time. Then he accepted his invitation, and both of them set out until they came to his house
[Saheeh Muslim no. 2037]
Imam an-Nawawi rahimahullah said:
“As for the second Hadith about the story of the Persian, then it is another issue. It is carried to mean that he (ﷺ) had an excuse which prevented the obligation of answering the invitation. The Prophet (ﷺ) used to have the choice between answering an invitation and leaving it. So he chose one of the two permissible options, which is to leave it off except if Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was with him due to what she was in of hungry and the likes. So the Prophet (ﷺ) disliked that he was specifically given food without her. This is from the beautiful treatment [of the wife], the rights of companionship, and the emphasized etiquette of camaraderie/friendship. So when he [the Persian neighbor] permitted her [to attend], the Prophet (ﷺ) chose the other choice in order to renew the benefit, which was to obtain what he wanted of honoring the one who sits with him, fulfill the right of good treatment [towards the wife], and provide comfort in relation to what occurs/happens…” [Sharh Saheeh Muslim (7/87)]
Translated by
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
