This man followed us. If you wish, allow him to come in, and if you wish, he will go back
Authentic hadithعن أبي مسعود البدري رضي الله عنه قال: دَعَا رَجُلٌ النبيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِطَعَامٍ صَنَعَهُ له خَامِسَ خَمْسَةٍ، فَتَبِعَهُمْ رجلٌ، فلَمَّا بَلَغَ البابَ، قال النبيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم : «إِنَّ هذا تَبِعَنَا، فَإِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ تَأْذَنَ له، وإِنْ شِئْتَ رَجَعَ» قال: بَلْ آذَنُ له يا رسولَ اللهِ.
Abu Mas‘ūd Al-Badri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a man invited the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to a meal that he prepared for him and four others. A man followed them, and when he arrived at the door, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said (to the host): "This man followed us. If you wish, allow him to come in, and if you wish, he will go back." He (the host) said: "O Messenger of Allah, I admit him."
Explanation
A man invited the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) with four others to a meal. A man followed them, and thus they became six altogether. When the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) arrived at the house of the host, he asked permission for the sixth man, saying: "This man followed us. If you wish, allow him to come in, and if you wish, he will go back." So the host allowed the man to join them in honor of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).
Source · Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim
From the Hadith Encyclopedia (hadeethenc.com).