How to Show Hospitality to Your Muslim Friends
Islamic culture values hospitality as an act of worship and a way to respect one’s guests and make them feel welcome. They treat guests with honor and welcome them with open arms. Therefore, in order to communicate honor, respect, and love to them, we should do the same!
How to Be a Good Host to Muslim Friends as a Christian
1. Approach someone of the same gender
Make sure that whenever you are approaching a Muslim, that you approach someone of your gender. Conservative Muslims take this seriously. You won’t see a Muslim man with female friends, or a Muslim woman with male friends. In fact, wives usually ask their husbands' permission and approval for any friendship they want to start.
2. Invite them into your home first
Instead of waiting for an invite from them into their home, invite them into yours first. This is even more important if your Muslim friend is from an immigrant family– they consider Americans as their “hosts” and will wait to be shown hospitality by an American.
3. Include their whole family
Family is a big part of your Muslim friend’s life, so include their family when you want to host! This specifically pertains to when you are both married and might have kids. Don’t just invite your friend, make sure their spouse and children are welcome too.
You can look at specific examples of how to do this in these blogs:
4. Ask about dietary restrictions and serve halal food
Your Muslim friend may have Islamic dietary restrictions, so ask them about their preferences. Discussing what food you will prepare will make them feel more relaxed and encouraged to come. If they do follow the traditional Islamic guidelines, then make sure that any food or drink you offer is “halal.” Halal means it is permitted by Allah, and “haram” is used to describe things that are not allowed by Allah.
To learn more about your Muslim friend’s diet, check out our blog post, Islam’s rules about what to eat (and what not to eat).
5. Greet them warmly when they arrive
The first few minutes set the tone for the whole visit, so be ready at the door! A warm “Welcome, we’re so glad you’re here!” goes a long way.
Be mindful with physical greetings. Some conservative Muslims don’t shake hands with the opposite gender, so let your friend take the lead. If they place a hand over their heart and nod, simply return the gesture. Once they’re inside, offer them a drink right away, such as tea, coffee, or water, since offering refreshments is an important part of hospitality in Muslim culture. Many Muslims also remove their shoes when entering a home, so consider leaving a spot near the door for shoes and let them know they’re welcome to keep them on or take them off.
Practical Hospitality Ideas for Different Situations
Invite them to holiday gatherings
Some of the best opportunities for hosting your Muslim friends are around holidays, like the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or even Easter.
Including your Muslim friend in events that aren’t a normal part of Islamic culture ensures that they never feel left out, especially if they live alone. While community is a big part of a Muslim’s life, single Muslims or college-aged Muslims might feel isolated, especially if they moved to the U.S. alone.
Share meals together
Sharing a meal with someone has always been a symbol of welcoming them into our lives. Jesus is the best example of the generous welcoming host! Make a habit of sharing a meal with your Muslim friends, even if it is cheese sandwiches! This can include meals during the work day, family meals, or catching up with them over lunch on the weekend.
Before you eat, pray over the meal. Muslims give thanks to Allah before eating, so a simple prayer of thanks will feel familiar and respectful. You can thank God for the food and for your friend, and close the prayer in Jesus’ name. Hearing you pray this way is often a natural opening for a conversation about Jesus, and your friend may ask why you pray in His name.
Prayer is very different in Islam than it is in the Bible. You can read here to learn more:
Plan a game or movie night
Do you and your Muslim friend like the same kinds of movies or games? Why not have a weekly or bi-weekly game or movie night! Shared hobbies can be used to connect with someone and show them the love of Christ.
A prayer for hosting
Dear Jesus, thank you for the resources you have given me so that I can show hospitality to my Muslim friend. Please open my eyes to every opportunity I have to love them and invite them into my life. I want to be a good friend to them, but more importantly, I want them to know you as their close Friend and Savior. Amen.
