2. While eating, if a morsel of food falls on the dastarkhaan, then pick it up, clean it and eat it. [3]
Hazrat Jaabir (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “If a morsel of food falls (while eating), one should pick it up, clean it and thereafter eat it. He should not leave it for Shaitaan.” [4]
3. Do not lean or recline on anything while eating. [5]
Hazrat Abu Juhaifah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “I do not lean on anything while eating.” [6]
4. While eating, praise Allah Ta‘ala by saying “Alhamdulillah”.
Hazrat Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Certainly Allah Ta‘ala is pleased with the servant who eats a morsel of food, or drinks a sip of water, and praises Allah Ta‘ala for it by saying “Alhamdulillah”.” [7]
5. Eat with three fingers (i.e. the thumb, index finger and middle finger). [8]
Hazrat Ka’b bin Maalik (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) used to eat with three fingers, and he would not wipe his hands until he licked his fingers. [9]
6. When eating, eat from the sides of the plate, not from the center, as the blessings descend in the center of the plate. [10]
Hazrat Ibnu Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Barakah (blessings) descends in the middle of the food, therefore eat from the sides and do not eat from the middle.” [11]
7. When two or more people are eating from one plate, then one should eat from the side of the plate that is close to him. However, if there are different foods on the plate, then one may eat from the side where each food is placed. [12]
Hazrat Ikraash bin Zu’aib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports, “(While eating with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam),) my hand was moving around the platter, and Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was eating from the food before him (i.e. on his side of the platter). Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then held my right hand with his left hand and said, “O Ikraash! Eat from one place, as it is one type of food.” Thereafter, we were presented with a platter containing different types of dates. I then commenced eating from the side of the platter that was before me, while the hand of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was moving around the platter (eating from different sides of the platter). Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then said to me, “O Ikraash! Eat from whichever side of the platter you wish, for the platter contains different types of dates.”” [13]
8. While eating, one should not remain completely silent. However, one should not speak of things that will cause others to feel uncomfortable, nauseous or lose their appetite (e.g. speaking about someone passing away, falling ill, etc). [14]
9. If you are eating with others and the food is limited in quantity, then be considerate and ensure that the others are also able to eat. [15]
[1] وسنة الأكل البسملة أوله والحمد لة آخره ... فإن نسي البسملة فليقل بسم الله على أوله وآخره اختيار (رد المحتار 6/340)
[2] عن عائشة رضي الله عنها أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: إذا أكل أحدكم فليذكر اسم الله تعالى، فإن نسي أن يذكر اسم الله تعالى في أوله فليقل بسم الله أوله وآخره (سنن أبي داود، الرقم: 3767، مسند أبي يعلى، الرقم: 7153 ، وقال الهيثمي في مجمع الزوائد، الرقم: 7902: رجاله ثقات)
Interesting Incident
Hazrat Umayyah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that on one occasion, a man was seated with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) at the time of meals. The man did not remember to take the name of Allah Ta‘ala before eating, and only remembered when he was about to finish the meal, and thus recited:
بِسْمِ اللهِ أَوَّلَهُ وَآخِرَهُ
At that juncture, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) remarked, “Shaitaan continued eating with this person until he took the name of Allah Ta‘ala. (As soon as he took the name of Allah Ta‘ala,) Shaitaan vomited all that he had consumed.”
المستدرك للحاكم، الرقم: 7089، وقال: هذا حديث صحيح الإسناد ولم يخرجاه، وقال الذهبي: صحيح
[3] ومن الإسراف ترك اللقمة الساقطة من اليد بل يرفعها أولا ويأكلها قبل غيرها كذا في الوجيز للكردري (الفتاوى الهندية 5/337)
[4] صحيح مسلم، الرقم: ٢٠٣٣
Interesting Incident
It is reported regarding Hazrat Ma’qil bin Yasaar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) that on one occasion, while he was eating (in the company of the leaders of the non-Muslims), a morsel of food fell from his hand onto the dastarkhaan. He immediately picked it up, cleaned it and ate it. Observing this, the non-Muslim leaders began to stare at him in disdain. A Muslim companion seated beside him said to him, “O our leader, may Allah Ta‘ala keep you well! These leaders are staring at you for picking up the morsel and eating it, whereas there is ample food before you.” Hazrat Ma’qil bin Yasaar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) responded saying, “I am not prepared to abandon what I had heard (and learnt) from Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) on account of these non-Muslims. The teaching (of Islam) which we impart to others is that when a morsel of food falls from the hand of any person, we command him to pick it up, clean it and consume it, and not leave it for Shaitaan.”
سنن ابن ماجة، الرقم: 3278، وقال البوصري في مصباح الزجاجة 4/11: هذا إسناد رجاله ثقات غير أنه منقطع
[5] ويكره الأكل والشرب متكئا أو واضعا شماله على الأرض أو مستندا كذا في الفتاوى العتابية (الفتاوى الهندية 5/337)
[6] صحيح البخاري، الرقم: 5398
[7] سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 1816، وقال: هذا حديث حسن
[8] وأما السنة ... والرابع الأكل بثلاثة أصابع إذا كان الطعام ثريدا (النتف في الفتاوى صـ 158)
[9] صحيح مسلم، الرقم: 2032
[10] ومن السنة أن لا يأكل من وسط القصعة فإن البركة تنزل في وسطها (رد المحتار 6/340)
[11] سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 1805 وقال: هذا حديث حسن صحيح
[12] عن وهب بن كيسان أنه سمع عمر بن أبي سلمة يقول: كنت غلاما في حجر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وكانت يدي تطيش في الصحفة فقال لي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: يا غلام سم الله وكل بيمينك وكل مما يليك فما زالت تلك طعمتي بعد (صحيح البخاري، الرقم: 5376)
ومن السنة أن لا يأكل من وسط القصعة فإن البركة تنزل في وسطها وأن يأكل من موضع واحد لأنه طعام واحد بخلاف طبق فيه ألوان الثمار فإنه يأكل من حيث شاء لأنه ألوان بكل ذلك ورد الآثار (رد المحتار 6/340)
[13] سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 1848، وقال: هذا حديث غريب
[14] ويكره السكوت حالة الأكل لأنه تشبه بالمجوس ويتكلم بالمعروف (رد المحتار 6/340)
[15] وأما الفضائل فأولها الإيثار عند القلة (النتف في الفتاوى صـ 159)