January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.

Tourists are our guests and Islam teaches we should honour them


By Walter S. Saul - | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend the BELCO VIP 9th Anniversary Excellence Awards at the Fairmont Southampton Resort and how impressed and privileged I felt. It was like I was at the Oscars.

The excitement and abeyance was fantastic. The Visitor Industry Partnership of Bermuda is dedicated to the promotion and development of hospitality and tourism in Bermuda and what better way to do so than to honour the men and women that make up this industry we call tourism.

The tourism industry is vital to the survival of the island's economy, but even more important are the people who serve so well visitors to our island. I salute VIP for this effort of choosing to recognize great service from people in the industry all over Bermuda who have gone the extra mile to give visitors to our shores a truly memorable "Bermudaful" experience.

My father Abdullah Ming, worked in this industry, day and night for many years and it benefited our family tremendously. I've seen many letters and compliments from his guests thanking him for helping to make their stay more enjoyable. There were over 540 industry super-stars nominees from a huge variety of tourism occupations, a total of over 60 within the 18 main categories. Category 10 for example, Best Housekeeping Award includes best Housekeeper, Houseperson and Room Attendant employee and my old school friend Evelyn 'Abbey' Burchall works in the industry, at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess. Abbey exemplifies the essence of good hospitality ethics and on Saturday evening her exemplary hospitality was duly rewarded, as she won Best Housekeeping Award! Congratulations Abbey and to all the nominees, finalist and winners and special congratulations go to Mr. Garry Burgess, whom won the Best of the Best Award. Thank you to these special people who represent the rest of us in supporting tourism, as the logo goes "Support Tourism, it supports you."In Islam, we are taught to honour guests and show the best of hospitality. Our great Prophet (pbuh) teaches us to be generous and how to entertain guests.

The Messenger of Allah further guides us by saying: "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should be hospitable with his or her guests."

Our great Prophet (pbuh) teaches us to be generous and how to entertain guests. He wants a Muslim to show gratitude and be kind and happy when receiving guests. One should respect and welcome his guests, in particular when they are strangers, or have no family or friends in that country. Guests whom come to your home should be made welcome, shown respect and be provided with whatever food and drink are available. One should sit with them in order to make them feel comfortable and happy, and take care to pay great attention to them.

Surely, our glorious Prophet (pbuh) guides us towards respecting guests and being generous towards them. In this respect, he says: "Indeed whoever believes that Allah is All-Generous, Who provides for His creation and rewards those who are hospitable towards their guests, should look after his guest."

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