التَّكلُّفُ لِلضَّيفِ Making a Special Effort for One’s Guest

12ـ رسولُ اللهِ‏ِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): كَفى بِالمَرءِ إثماً أن يَستَقِلَّ ما يُقَرِّبُ إلى إخوانِهِ، وكَفى بِالقَومِ إثما أن يَستَقِلُّوا ما يُقَرِّبُهُ إلَيهِم أخُوهُم.

12– The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘It is enough of a sin for a man to deem that which brings him close to his fellow brothers as burdensome, and it is enough of a sin for a people to deem burdensome that which draws a fellow brother close to them.’[al-Mahasin, v. 2, p. 186, no. 1533]
 

13ـ رسولُ اللهِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): لا يَتَكَلَّفَنَّ أحَدٌ لِضَيفِهِ ما لا يَقدِرُ .

13– The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘No one should go to troubles that they cannot afford for a guest.’[Kanz al-`Ummal, no. 25876]
 

14ـ الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): إذا أتاكَ أخُوك فَآتِهِ بما عِندَك، وإذا دَعَوتَهُ فَتَكَلَّفْ لَهُ .

14– Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘If your brother comes to your house [uninvited] then offer him whatever you have in the house, and if you invite him, then make a special effort for him.’[al-Mahasin, v. 2, p. 179, no. 1506]
 

15ـ الإمامُ الرِّضا (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): دَعا رجُلٌ أميرَ المؤمنينَ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ) فقالَ لَهُ: قد أجَبتُكَ على أن تَضمَنَ لي ثلاثَ خِصالٍ . قال: وما هِيَ يا أميرَ المؤمنينَ ؟ قال: لا تُدخِلْ عَلَيَّ شيئاً مِن خارِجٍ، ولا تَدَّخِرْ عَنّي شيئاً في البيتِ، ولا تُجحِفْ بالعِيالِ . قالَ: ذاكَ لكَ يا أميرَ المؤمنينَ، فأجابَهُ عليُّ بنُ أبي طالبٍ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ).

15– Imam al-Rida (AS) narrated, ‘A man once invited the Commander of the Faithful, Ali (AS) for a meal, so Imam said to him, ‘I will accept your invitation provided you fulfil three conditions.’ The man asked, ‘And what are they, O Commander of the Faithful?’ to which he replied, ‘Do not bring any special food from outside for me, do not preserve anything in the house especially for me, and do not impose any difficulty on your family.’ The man replied, ‘You shall have that O Commander of the Faithful’ and Ali b. Abi Talib accepted his invitation.’[`Uyoun Akhbar al-Ridha (AS), v. 2, p. 42, no. 138]