Sunnats and Aadaab of Eating – Part 3

1. One should eat and drink with the right hand.

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم قال: ليأكل أحدكم بيمينه وليشرب بيمينه وليأخذ بيمينه وليعط بيمينه فإن الشيطان يأكل بشماله ويشرب بشماله ويعطي بشماله ويأخذ بشماله (ابن ماجة رقم  3266)

Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Eat with the right hand, and drink with the right hand. When you have to receive anything from someone, receive it in the right hand. When you have to hand over something, hand it over with the right hand. Most certainly (the way of Shaytaan) is that Shaytaan eats and drinks with his left hand, and receives and hands over with his left hand.   

2. One should commence eating the food from the side of the plate that is before him.

عن عمر بن أبي سلمة، قال: كنت غلاما في حجر رسول اللّه صلى الله عليه وسلم، وكانت يدي تطيش في الصحفة، فقال لي رسول اللّه صلى الله عليه وسلم: يا غلام، سم اللّه، وكل بيمينك، وكل مما يليك فما زالت تلك طعمتي بعد (البخاري رقم 5376)

Hazrat Umar bin Abi Salamah (Radhiyallahu Anhu) relates: “I grew up in the care of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). On one occasion, while eating with Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), my hand began moving around the plate. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) (lovingly) addressed me saying: “O young boy, take the name of Allah Ta’ala (upon the commencement of the meal), and eat with your right hand and eat from the side that is before you.” Hazrat Umar bin Abi Salamah (Radhiyallahu Anhu) further says: “This remained my habit of eating thereafter.”

3. While eating, if a morsel of food has to fall on the dastarkhaan, then pick it up, clean it and eat it.

عن جابر قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم : إذا وقعت اللقمة من يد أحدكم فليمسح ماعليها من الأذى وليأكلها. (ابن ماجة رقم  3279)

Hadhrat Jaabir (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “If a morsel of food has to fall from one’s hand at the time of meals, one should clean it and thereafter eat it.

عن جابر : أن النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم قال إذا أكل أحدكم طعما فسقطت لقمة فليمط ما رابه منها ثم ليطعمها ولا يدعها للشيطان  (ترمذي رقم 1802)

Hadhrat Jaabir (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “If a morsel of food has to fall from one’s hand at the time of meals, one should clean it and thereafter eat it. He should not leave it for Shaytaan.

عن معقل ابن يسار قال بينما هو يتغدى إذ سقطت منه لقمة . فتناولها فأماط ما كان فيها من أذى فأكلها . فتغامز به الدهاقين . فقيل أصلح الله الامير . إن هؤلاء الدهاقين يتغامزون من أخذك اللقمة وبين يديك هذا الطعام . قال إني لم أكن لأدع ما سمعت من رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم لهذه الأعاجم . إنا كنا نأمر أحدنا إذا سقطت لقمته أن يأخذها فيميط ماكان فيها من أذى ويأكلها ولا يدعها للشيطان (ابن ماجة رقم  3278)

It is reported regarding Hadhrat Ma’qal bin Yasaar (Radhiallahu Anhu), that on one occasion while he was in the company of the wealthy, influential non Muslims taking meals, a morsel of food had fallen from his hand onto the dastarkhaan. He immediately picked it up, cleaned it and ate it. The non Muslims stared and scorned at him in disdain. Those Muslims seated beside him advised him saying: “O our Ameer, may Allah Ta’ala keep you in good condition. However it is our opinion, that you do not repeat this action as we see this upper-class, wealthy people disdaining this action of yours of picking up the dropped morsel and eating it.” Hadhrat Maqal bin Yasaar (Radhiallahu Anhu) responded saying: “I am not prepared to abandon the teaching of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) on account of these non Muslims. The teaching of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) that we firmly latch on to and impart to others is that whenever a morsel of food has to fall, we should pick it up, clean it and consume it, and not leave it for Shaytaan.