Religious Foundations of Guest Culture

Misafirlik culture encompasses the ways in which individuals or communities provide temporary accommodation, food and drink, and social support to guests. In Islamic culture, hosting guests is not merely a gesture of politeness but is regarded as a social responsibility emphasized in religious sources. In this context, hospitality is linked to individuals’ moral and societal obligations.

In pre-Islamic Arab societies, hospitality was a significant social institution grounded in tribal solidarity and notions of honor. With the emergence of Islam, this tradition was reinforced by religious texts and became a social norm. The Qur’an narrates examples of Prophet Ibrahim’s hospitality toward his guests (Zâriyât 51:24–27). These narratives illustrate that hospitality is more than an individual act—it is a duty embedded in social and religious contexts.

Although hospitality is not explicitly defined as an act of worship in the Qur’an, it is closely associated with the concepts of generosity and sharing. In the Hadith, offering hospitality to guests is identified as a sign of faith. For instance, authentic Hadith sources state: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his guest” (Bukhârî, Adab, 85; Muslim, Iman, 74). These expressions form the foundation of this understanding. In classical Islamic law, it was recommended that a guest be hosted for at least one day, while additional acts of hospitality were considered voluntary good deeds.

In Islamic societies, hospitality is not merely an individual responsibility; over time, it acquired institutional and economic dimensions. With the increase in urbanization, structures such as ribat, han, zaviye, and imarethane were established to meet the lodging and sustenance needs of travelers. The waqf system ensured the continuity of these institutions and contributed to the preservation of hospitality as a social mechanism.

In the modern era, urbanization, migration, and social changes have transformed traditional hospitality practices. Nevertheless, the culture of hospitality continues to be upheld during social events such as religious holidays, condolences, weddings, and iftar gatherings. Additionally, some civil society organizations sustain the social dimension of this tradition by providing services to migrants and low-income groups.

The culture of hospitality in Islamic societies has historically developed as both an expression of individual moral responsibility and a component of social solidarity. Examples found in the Qur’an and Hadith demonstrate that this culture is not merely historical but also maintains continuity in social and institutional terms.