Benefits of the Hadith of Abu Mas'ud al-Badri (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: A man invited the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to a meal he had prepared for him, as the fifth of five, and a man followed them.

The Shaykh : In this is evidence for several benefits. First: It is permissible for a person, when inviting people, to specify the number, and there is no blame in that. Some people say that if he specifies the number, it means he is stingy; why would he specify it? But it is said that a person may have limited means and need to specify the number so that he prepares food that does not exceed what is sufficient for them, especially in a place where most people are poor. As for the rich, praise be to Allah, they do not specify. In it is also evidence for the permissibility of a man following the invited guests in case he obtains food, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) did not prevent this man from following them, but rather sought permission for him. And because it was also reported in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) when he followed the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) in order to fill his stomach. In it is also evidence that if someone comes with a person who was not invited, he should seek permission for him, especially if you think that the host invited you for a specific purpose that he does not like anyone to know about. In that case, you must seek permission. In it is also evidence that there is no blame on the host if he does not grant permission to the one who followed the invited guest, because if there were blame in that, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would not have sought permission for him. When he sought permission, it indicated that he is at his option: if he wishes, he grants permission, and if he wishes, he says, "Return." That is because when a person seeks permission from someone, the host is at his option: if he wishes, he grants him permission, and if he wishes, he says, "Return." And Allah the Exalted said: So let there be no distress in your chest or narrowness in your soul if you seek permission from a person and he says, "Return, I am busy now." This is contrary to some people who, when they seek permission from a person and he says, "Return, I am busy," feel something in their heart. This is a mistake, because people have specific needs in their homes, and they may have attachments to other people that are more important. So if you seek permission from a person in the house and he says to you, "I have work now, return," then return with complete ease and complete tranquility, because this is the Shari'ah. And success is from Allah.