The etiquettes of eating

Summary

The Islamic etiquettes of eating emphasise:

  • Cleanliness, moderation in eating, good manners and sharing

  • Eating with the right hand using the thumb, index finger and middle finger

  • Remembrance of Allah and being thankful to Him for what He has provided

  • Honouring one's host and guests

  • Eating and drinking whilst sitting, and not reclining whilst eating

  • Abstaining from food that Allah has forbidden e.g. alcohol, swine flesh,  meat of animals not slaughtered in the Islamic manner

  • Not wasting food and gaining as much blessing as possible from the food

Before eating a person should:

  • Wash his/her hands to remove any dirt from them

  • Ask about the food (such as its name, what it is made from) so that s/he knows what they are eating (if s/he is a guest)

  • Hasten to eat the food that is brought by the host so that the host feels reassured that the guest is keen to eat the food

  • Say one or more of the dua'a (supplications) that is said before eating.  Examples are:

 Allahumma baarik lana feehi wa at'imna khairan minhu 

(Oh Allah, put blessing in it (i.e. the food) and provide us with better than it) 

  • Say "Bismillah" (In the Name of Allah)

Whilst eating a person should:

  • Eat and drink with his/her right hand (this is obligatory unless there is a genuine reason for not doing so, such as a disability)                        Note:  it is preferable to perform all clean or good tasks with the right hand because this was the practice of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).  Actions that involve something unclean (such as cleaning oneself when going to the toilet and so on) should be performed with the left hand.

  • Eat with three fingers (the thumb, index finger and the middle finger of the right hand), unless using the fourth or fifth fingers is necessary to pick up the food

  • Say the following supplication if s/he forgets to say "Bismillah" before eating:

Bismillahi fee awwalahu wa aakhirihu

(In the Name of Allah, in the beginning and in the end) 

  • Take food from the edges of the pot (rather than the middle) when serving his/herself.  This is because the blessing in a food descends into the middle of the pot and it is preferable to bless the food as long as possible.

  • Refrain from spitting or blowing his/her nose, unless it is necessary

  • Not speaking about haraam (forbidden) things

  • Eat in a group, because this has more blessing

  • Eat off the same plate with others i.e. sharing the plate

  • Eat food from his/her own side of the plate

  • Eat on the floor, rather than at a table, because this is preferable.  Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) never ate a table as an act of humility in giving up the luxuries of this life. 

  • Pick up any food that drops on the ground, brush off any dust/dirt, and eat it

  • Not eat from vessels/plates or with other implements that are made from gold or silver because this is a kind of extravagance that is forbidden

  • Offer the best food to others and not keep a particular type of food to his/herself (unless there is a reason such as it is a person's medication)

  • Eat only a small amount and not eat until his/her stomach is full.  Specifically, it is recommended that one third of the stomach should be filled with food, another third filled with drink, and the last third with air (i.e. left empty)

The Prophet (PBUH) said "A man does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat enough to keep him alive. But if he must do that, then one-third for his food, one-third for his drink and one-third for his air." (Hadith)

  • When drinking, do so by taking three sips, rather than one gulp.  This is done by taking a small sip, then taking the mouth outside the drinking vessel, taking a breath, then another small sip (in the same manner as in the first sip) and then a full mouthful.

  • Encourage his/her guests to eat more  by saying "Eat!" (to a maximum of three times) if they are the hosts until s/he is sure that the guests have had all they want

  • Praying for his/her host. 

1.    Allahumma baarik lahum feema razaqtahum, waghfir lahum war hamhum 

(Oh Allah, bless them in what You have provided for them, and forgive them and have mercy on them)

2.    If someone gives a person something to drink they should say to them: 

Allahumma at'im  man at'amani wasqi man saqaani 

(Oh Allah, feed the one who has fed me and give drink to the one who has given me drink) 

3.      In the case of the guest being one who has been fasting that day, the guest should say the following prayer for his/her host: 

Aftara 'indakumus saa'imoona, wa akala ta'aamakumul abraaru, wa sallat alaikumul malaa'ikatu 

(May fasting people break their fast with you, may the righteous eat your food, and may the angels send blessings upon you)

Note: There is great reward for a host if s/he feeds a fasting person when the time comes to break the fast 

  • Not criticise the food (unless it is not a permissible kind of food), rather if s/he likes then s/he should eat it, otherwise s/he should leave it

  • Not blow into the vessel s/he is drinking from or into a pot or across drinking water

  • Not eat or drink standing - it is better to sit down and do so

  • Not recline whilst eating or whilst resting on a pillow

  • Clean the plate of all the food by wiping it clean (with the fingers or a piece of bread etc)

After eating a person should:

  • Lick his/her fingers

  • Wash his/her hands and rinse his/her mouth

  • Clean his/her teeth and not eat any food that they remove from their teeth

  • Say a dua'a (supplication) to thank and remember Allah because

"Allah is pleased with His slave when he eats something and praises Him for it, or drinks something and praises Him for it."

There are many examples of supplications, however, two off them are:

The Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) said: "Whoever eats some food then says: 'Al-hamdu Lillaahi allahi at'amani haadha wa razaqnihi min ghayri hawlin minni wa laa quwwata' (Praise be to Allaah Who has fed me this and provided me with it with no power or strength on my part), his previous sins will be forgiven."

"When the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) ate or drank anything, he would say, 'Al-hamdu Lillaah alladhi at'ama wa saqaa wa sawwaghahu wa ja'ala lahu makhrajan' (Praise be to Allaah Who has given food and drink, made it easy to swallow and provided an exit for it)"

Other etiquettes related to eating:

  • Food and drinking vessels should be covered and not left open to prevent any dust, dirt, insects etc falling in

  • A person should eat only when hungry, as the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did

  • Certain foods are encouraged to eat because the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) would do so.  Examples are honey, dates and a type of seed known simply as the "black seed".

  • Certain foods are forbidden for consumption by Allah in His wisdom.  Examples are pig meat, alcohol and animal products that are from an animal that is not slaughtered according to the guidelines in the Qur'an (dairy products such milk are not included in this since the animal was not slaughtered to provide the milk).

  • Food should not be wasted or thrown away

Read about other Islamic etiquettes

 


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