Translation: Ishaaq bn AbdirRaheem Aboo Aamir
Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem
There are five etiquettes regarding serving food to your guests:
One: Hastening the service [not keeping the guests unnecessarily waiting]. That is honouring them.
Two: Servicing them with fruits first before any other thing. that is better medically. Allaah the Mighty did say:
ÙˆÙŽÙَٰكÙهَةٖ مّÙمَّا يَتَخَيَّرÙونَ ÙˆÙŽÙ„ÙŽØۡم٠طَيۡرٖ مّÙمَّا يَشۡتَهÙونَ
And fruit of what they select
And the meat of fowl, from whatever they desire.
(Waaqi'ah: 20, 21)
Then the next thing that could be served is meat especially the grilled one. Then after that is thareed [gruel: a blend of meat, date and loaf with some soup]. Then sweets could follow after which the guests should drink cool water.
Three: The host should then bring forth all available [food items of different] colours.
Four: The host should not hasten to pack the food until all the guests have satisfied themselves from it.
Five: The host should present food he has the capacity to, failing to act according to one’s capacity is a dent on one’s mannerism.
The host should leave some food for the people of household before he serves the guests.
Whenever any of the guest intends to leave the sitting, the host should accompany him to the exit of the house, that is the Sunnah and honouring the guest.
Being cheerful to the guests is also one of the vital ways to honour them, so also is having pleasant talk with them when they enter, leave and when they all sit over the table.
On the part of the guest, he should show good to his host even if the latter could not meet all his needs, that is the good thing to do with regards to good character and humbleness. He should not leave the host except with his leave and pleasure, and he should weigh his heart upon the worthiness of his stay.
Al-Maqdisi’s Mukhtasar Minhaajil Qaasideen: Vol2 p.8.
