Arrangements for ordinary people and distinguished guests at a feast

Question

Question: In the Jam‘iyyat al-Ra‘in a custom has existed for a long time which is referred to as “bojh” (lit. “burden”; extra shares and precedence for visiting guests): that is, at a wedding or similar function, at a meal invitation or when distributing some sweets and the like, those who have come from outside are given five shares or two shares; and at a meal invitation the guests who have come from outside have their hands washed first, and the food is also served to them first of all.

Answer

At a general invitation, this kind of distinction at one and the same dining cloth is not an appropriate way. If, however, the dining cloths are separate — for example, particular people are called into one room and fed particular food separately, while there is another kind of food at the general dining cloth — then there is no harm in it.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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