Hospitality : A Tradition of Prophets.

Peace be upon you!

The guests arrived at nigt, food was very short, the couple put the hungry children in bed to sleep, put the light out, made eating noise without eating any food so that guests were comfortable in having thier fill.

This amazing incident was revealed by Allah to the holy prophet ( peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and next morning he told the couple that the way of their sacrifice made God smile. (metaphore for likeness) .

Hospitality has always been the tradition of prophets and their followers. It is a mean to generate mutual love and to bring people closer to God.

The blessed holy prophet would personally take care of food and bedings of his guests. He would show extreme patience with guests. Once he himself served the delegation sent by the king of Abyssinia as gesture of thanks. ( the king gave refuge to his persecuted followers) . The companions of prophet were also spiritually trained to practice hospitality. When their brethren migrated from Mecca to Medina, they shared their belongings with them.

To revive faith and to bring human close to God and for spiritual enhancement, the Promised Refomer, according to Ahmadiyya community, brought divinely helped peace plan. The initiation of the annual gathering and hospitality via public-kitchen was part of it. He was ardent devotee of the blessed holy prophet thus he, too, showed personal examples to treat his guests with utmost affection and respect. After him, his caliphs continued the spiritual programe. (w.mta.tv -- w.alislam.org) . Their annual gatherings and kitchens are now world wide phenomenon. All service is run by volunteers from all walks of life with zeal. These arrangements astonish outsiders but these are promised blessings, according to believers.

Next friday ( 25 July), international gathering will start in U.K. The holy fith caliph advised the volunteers to get ready to serve the incomming guests of God with understanding that service is done with sacrifice. In last few months, he has chaired the spiritual gatherings in Africa, USA and Canada. This is the 100 th year of their caliphate thus the
gathering is special.