Hospitality at home: Serving each other with a smile

By Hatmah Nalugwa Ssekaaya

Assalam alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh

One evening, I arrived home completely exhausted. The day had been long; the team and I (Hatmahz Kitchen) had catered for a big wedding that Saturday. As I sank into the sofa, Mr. Ssekaaya quietly disappeared into the kitchen. Minutes later, he returned — holding a tray with a cup of warm chamomile tea and my favourite snack. He didn’t say much, just placed it in front of me with a smile that said, “You have done enough today. Rest.”

It was such a simple gesture — yet it filled my heart with peace. I realized then that hospitality is not only for guests. It begins with the people we live with every day.

Serving each other — the sunnah way

When we think of khidmah (service), our minds often jump to serving others outside our home — the guests, neighbours, or community. Yet, in Islam, serving one’s spouse and family is one of the most beloved acts to Allah.

The Prophet (PBUH) was known to serve his household. Aisha (RA) said:

“He would be in the service of his family, and when the time for prayer came, he would go out to pray.” (Bukhari)

This shows us something profound: that the Prophet of Allah (PBUH), despite his immense responsibilities, never considered domestic help beneath him. He cooked, mended his clothes, and assisted his wives — not out of obligation, but out of love.

When we serve our spouses or families, not because we have to, but because we want to — that’s not just kindness. That is sunnah.

The smile that changes everything

Hospitality at home is not about grand gestures. It is about attitude. A simple task, done with a frown, can feel like a burden. But the same task, done with a smile, becomes an act of love. The Prophet (PBUH) said:

“Your smile for your brother is charity.” (Tirmidhi)

If a smile is charity to a stranger, how much more so to one’s spouse? Imagine the barakah that fills a home where chores are shared with warmth instead of resentment, where meals are served not as duty, but as devotion.

Sometimes, the real hospitality we owe is not to visitors. It is to each other.

The beauty of small gestures

Think of the last time your spouse ironed your clothes, helped clear the dishes, or prepared something you like without being asked. Those are not random acts. They are silent love letters written in action. True affection is not always spoken; it’s shown. It’s in:

• Filling your partner’s cup before your own.
• Noticing when they are tired and offering to take over.
• Bringing a warm towel after a long shower.
• Saying, “Let me help you with that,” before they even ask.

Each of these small acts adds to the unseen pile of ajr (reward) in your marriage.

Redefining hospitality

Many of us go out of our way to treat guests with warmth — fresh juice, clean cushions, extra care in presentation — but what about our own families?

What if we treated our spouses as our most honoured guests? What if our homes were places where both husband and wife felt seen, served, and cherished? Imagine how love would flourish if every meal was prepared with niyyah (intention), every act of help seen as a form of sadaqah.

Because in truth, marriage is not a transaction. It is a cycle of service. Today you serve, tomorrow you are served. Together, we serve Allah.

From routine to reward

Islam beautifully transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. Cooking dinner? That is sadaqah. Helping your husband find his missing keys? That is ajr. Washing the dishes with patience? That is ibaadah.

When we set our intention – “Ya Allah, I do this to please You” – even the smallest act becomes part of our worship. And when we do these things with joy, it becomes contagious. A home filled with cheerful service becomes a home filled with light.

The Prophet’s model of mutual care

It’s easy to forget that the Prophet (PBUH) and his wives lived a simple, cooperative life. They didn’t compete over who did more. They complemented each other.

He (PBUH) showed affection through service, and his wives responded with devotion. This mutual care created not just harmony, but sakīnah (tranquillity).

If every couple embraced this sunnah, homes would transform. Tasks would no longer feel like burdens — they would become shared blessings.

A gentle reminder

Hospitality at home is not just about what you serve, but how you serve it. The tone, the intention, the presence – that is where the love hides. And I want to ask you our dear reader,

💭 when was the last time you served your spouse with joy? Not because you had to, but because you wanted to make them feel cherished?

May Allah fill our homes with the sweetness of service, the sincerity of love, and the barakah of a shared smile. May He make us of those who serve one another for His sake, and find in that service, peace and reward beyond measure. Ameen.