Manners relating to Eating and Drinking

Bismillah before Eating

Umar bin Abu Salamah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said to me:

"Mention Allah's Name (i.e., say Bismillah before starting to eat), eat with your right hand, and eat from what is near you.''

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

If one forgets to say Bismillah

Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said:

 "When any of you wants to eat, he should mention the Name of Allah in the begining, (i.e., say Bismillah). If he forgets to do it in the beginning, he should say Bismillah awwalahu wa akhirahu (I begin with the Name of Allah at the beginning and at the end).''

[At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud]

Shaytan joins a meal where Allah’s name has not been mentioned

Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) saying:

"If a person mentions the Name of Allah upon entering his house or eating, Satan says, addressing his followers: `You will find no where to spend the night and no dinner.' But if he enters (his house) without mentioning the Name of Allah, Satan says (to his followers); `You have found (a place) to spend the night in, and if he does not mention the Name of Allah at the time of eating, Satan says: `You have found (a place) to spend the night in as well as food.''

[Muslim]

Shaytan’s Hatred

Umaiyyah bin Makhshi (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) was sitting while a man was eating food. That man did not mention the Name of Allah (before commencing to eat) till only a morsel of food was left. When he raised it to his mouth, he said: "Bismillah awwalahu wa akhirahu (With the Name of Allah, in the beginning and in the end).'' Allah’s Messenger (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) smiled at this and said, "Satan had been eating with him but when he mentioned the Name of Allah, Satan vomited all that was in his stomach.''

[Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i]

Never Criticise Food

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) never found fault with food. If he had inclination to eating it, he would eat; and if he disliked it, he would leave it.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Eating with Company

Wahshi bin Harb (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

Some of the Companions of Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said: "We eat but are not satisfied.'' He (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said, "Perhaps you eat separately.'' The Companions replied in affirmative. He then said, "Eat together and mention the Name of Allah over your food. It will be blessed for you.''

[Abu Dawud]

Licking ones fingers

Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said:

 "When  one of you finishes eating, he should not wipe his fingers until he has licked them himself or has given them to someone else to lick for him.''

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) commanded the licking of fingers and the gleaning of the dish, saying:

 "You do not know in which portion the blessing lies.''

[Muslim]

Never Waste Food

Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may A;;ah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said:

 "Satan appears at every thing done by you; he appears even at one's dinner. When a morsel of any of you falls, he should pick it up and remove any dirt on it, and then eat it. He should not leave it for Satan, nor should he wipe his hand with the towel until he has licked his fingers, for he does not know in what portion of the food the blessing lies.''

[Muslim]

Sharing Food

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said:

 "The food of two persons suffices for three persons, and the food of three persons suffices for four persons.''

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Drinking Water

Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said:

 "Do not drink in one gulp like a camel, but in two or three (gulps). Mention the Name of Allah (i.e., say Bismillah) when you start drinking and praise Him (i.e., say Al-hamdu lillah) after you have finished.''

[At-Tirmidhi]

The Right Hand side

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

 Milk mixed with water was brought to Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him). On his right side was sitting a bedouin and on his left was sitting Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him). He (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) drank from it and handed the rest to the bedouin saying, "One who is on the right has preference, then again the one who is on the right.''

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The Blessed Milk of the Prophet (may Allah’s blessings and peace beupon him)

Sahl bin Sa`d (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

 A drink was brought to Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s blessings and peace beupon him) and he drank (some) from it. On his right was a boy and on his left were some elderly people. He (may Allah’s blessings and peace beupon him) said to the boy, "Would you permit me to give rest of this drink to these on my left?'' The boy said: "O Messenger of Allah, I would certainly not give preference to anyone in anything that might come to me from you.'' So he (may Allah’s blessings and peace beupon him) handed over the rest of the drink to him.

Commentory: Anything which has touched or anything which comes from the Holy Prophet is blessed and contains immense Mercy and Shif’a. If anyone touches the Holy Prophet in the state of Iman the fire of Hell becomes haram on that person. For these great reasons the young Companion wanted to drink the milk first instead of giving to the elders.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Prohibitation to blow into a Cup or Vessel

Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:

 The Prophet (PBUH) prohibited us from breathing into the drinking vessel.

[At-Tirmidhi]

Prohibitation of drinking from Silver or Gold Vessels

Hudhaifah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

 The Prophet (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) prohibited us from wearing brocade or silk and drinking out of gold or silver vessels and said, "These are meant for them (disbelievers) in this world and for you in the Hereafter.''

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Umm Salamah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said:

 "He who drinks from the vessel of silver kindles the Fire (of Hell) in his belly.''

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]