Category Archives: Sunnan

Ahadith – On Using the Right Hand and Three Fingers

In Sahih Muslim it is related from Ibn ‘Umar radiallahu anhu that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said “When eating eat with the right hand and when drinking drink with the right hand.”

In Sahih Muslim it is related from the same (companion) that the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said “None of you should eat nor drink with your left hand as it is Shaytan’s way to eat and drink with the left hand.”

Ibn Majah reported from Abu Hurayra radiallahu anhu that the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam stated “Eat with your right hand and drink with your right hand and take with your right hand and give with your right hand because Shaytan eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand and takes with his left hand and gives with his left hand.”

Ibn an-Najjar reported from Abu Hurayra radiallahu anhu that the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said “Eating (lifting the morsel) with three fingers is the way of the Prophets (peace be upon all of them).”

Hakim reported from Ibn Abbas radiallahu anhu that the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said “Eat with three fingers as it is the Sunnah (the way of the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) and do not eat with five fingers as it is the way of the A’arab (uncultivated bedouins).”

Ahadith – On Beginning with Bismillah and Barakah

First a few ahadith (sayings of the Beloved Prophet of Allah – sallallahu alayhe wasallam – peace and blessing upon him and his family) on food.

In Sahih Muslim, Hadrat Hudhayfa (radi-Allahu anhu) relates that the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam stated that not reciting Bismillahir Rahman ir-Rahim over food makes the food permissible for Shaytan to partake in.  This means that if one does not recite Bismillahir Rahman ir-Rahim prior to eating, Shaytan partakes in the meal.

In Sahih Muslim, Hadrat Jabir (radi-Allahu anhu) relates that the Blessed Prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam said “If a person enters his  house and begins his meal by saying Bismillah, Shaytan tells his family “you will not find here place to stay nor food to eat.” And if he enters his house without Bismillah then he says “you have found place to stay.” Then, when such a person eats without Bismillah, Shaytan says “you now have a place to stay and food to eat.”

In Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, Hadrat Umar ibn abi Salamah (radi-Allahu anhu) relates “I was a child when I was in the care of the Blessed Prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam (this companion was under the guardianship of the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam and the son of the Mother of the Believers Umm Salamah) and during mealtime, I’d eat from various parts of the dish, so the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam said “Say Bismillah, eat with your right hand, and eat from that part of the plate which is closest to you.” 

In Abu Daud, Tirmidhi, and Haakim A’isha (radi Allahu anha) relates that the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam stated “When one of you begins to eat, remember the Name of Allah, meaning say Bismillah and if you forget to say Bismillah in the beginning then say it as such “Bismillahi awwalahu wa aakhirahu” and in the traditions of Imam Ahmed, Ibn Maajah, Ibn Habbaan, and Bayhaqi, it is as such:   “Bismillahi fi awwalihi wa aakhirihi.”

Imam Ahmed, Abu Daud, Ibn Maajah, and Haakim mention it, and Wahshi ibn Harb (radi Allahu anhu) relates that the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam said “Eat in a group, and recite Bismillah, for in these are Barakah ” (Barkat – blessing, grace, increase, a lot with a little). Ibn Majah relates that the people asked “O Messenger of Allah, we eat yet are not satiated.” The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam replied “Perhaps you eat separately.” They said “Yes”. He said “Eat your meals together and recite Bismillah, therein is Barakah.”

In the Sharah Sunnah Abu Ayyub radi-Allahu anhu narrates that we were in the blessed presence of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhe wasallam and at the beginning of the meal there was abundance of barakah the likes of which we had never seen before, but towards the end there was an absence of such.  So we asked the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam, “O Rasul Allah! What was the cause of this change.” He sallallahu alayhe wasallam responded “We all began the meal with the recitation of Bismillah, then a person joined in without doing so such that Shaytan joined in the meal with him.”

Abu Daud relates from Hadrat Umayyah ibn Maghsha radi-Allahu anhu who says “A person was eating without having said Bismillah and had almost completed the meal, but on lifting the last morsel recited “Bismillahi awwalahu wa aakhirahu”.  The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam smiled and said “Shaytan was eating along with him and when the person remembered the name of Allah he threw up whatever he head eaten” and this may also mean that the barakah that had dissipated returned.”

In Sahih Muslim Hadrat Hudhayfa radi-Allahu anhu says that when we joined in meals with the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam we would never place our hand in (begin) the meal unless the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam did first. Once in the company of the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam a girl rushed in as if someone was pushing her from behind. She tried to place her hand in the dish but the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam prevented her. Then an A’arabi (bedouin) rushed in as if he was being pushed from behind and the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam withheld his hand likewise as said “When the Name of Allah is not mentioned over food, that food becomes permissible (halal) for Shaytan.  Shaytan came in with the girl so that he could partake with her in the meal and I withheld his hand, then he came in with this A’arabi so that he could partake in the meal with him and I withheld his hand. I swear by He in Whose Hand is my life, his hand along with theirs is in my hand”, thereafter, the Blessed Prophet mentioned the Name of Allah, meaning he said Bismillah and began to eat.”  A similar narration is mentioned by Imam Ahmed, Abu Daud, Nisa’i, and Haakim.

Ibn ‘Asakir mentions that Hadrat ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amir radi-Allahu anhu relates that the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam said “The food on which the Name of Allah is not mentioned is (a cause of) disease and is devoid of barakah and its atonement, if the tablecloth (the sheet that is spread out to place the dish or dishes of food on the floor) has not been lifted, is to read Bismillah and eat something from it, and if already lifted, to read Bismillah and lick your fingers.”

Daylami mentions that Anas radi-Allahu anhu relates that the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam said “If any of you eats or drinks you should say “Bismillahi wa billahil-ladhi laa yadurru ma’a ismihi shay-un fil ardi wa laa fis-Samaa-i ya Hayyu ya Qayyumu” and with this you will never get sick even if the food contains poison.

Food in the Qur’an

The matters covered in this blog will consist of several categories.  Of these, those matters pertaining to the consumption of food is first and foremost, the reason being that the human being is closely linked to food and drink (for survival and manners surrounding its acquisition and consumption).

The Holy Book (Al-Quran) mentions:

Maidah Ayat 87

O believers! Make not unlawful the pure things, which Allah has made lawful for you and cross not the limit. Undoubtedly, Allah likes not those who cross the limit. (Qur’an 5:87)

And the Book further states:

Al-An'am Ayat 142

And of the cattle some are for carrying burden and some lying on earth (too small); eat of what Allah has provided for you and do not follow the footsteps of the devil (Satan). Undoubtedly, he is your open enemy. (Quran 6:142)

Furthermore, the Exalted One mentions in these 3 verses of  Surat ul-A’raf:

Al-A'raf Ayat 31Al-A'raf ayat 32Al-A'raf ayat 33

‘O children of Adam! Take your adornment whenever you go to the masjid (mosque) and eat and drink and do not cross the limit. Undoubtedly, the persons crossing the limit are not liked by Him.

Say you, ‘who has forbidden the adornment of Allah, which He brought forth for His bondmen and the pure foods? Say you. ‘That is for the believers in the world and is exclusively for them on the Day of Resurrection. Thus We explain fully the signs for the people who have knowledge.

Say you, ‘My Lord has forbidden the indecencies, which of them are open and which are hidden. And sin, and unjust excesses, and that you associate with Allah that for which He has not sent down any warrant and that you say of Allah what you know not. (Quran 7:31-33)

Then My Beloved Sustainer (Rabb) states:

An-Nur ayat 61

There is no harm for the blind and there is no harm for the lame and there is no restriction on the sick nor on any one of you, that you eat in the houses of your children or the houses of your fathers, or the houses of your mothers or the houses of your brothers, or the houses of your sisters or the houses of your uncles or the houses of your paternal aunts, or the houses of your maternal uncles, or the houses “of your maternal aunts, or from those places of which the keys are in your possession or , from the house of your friend. There is no blame upon you whether you eat together or separately. Then when you enter any house, salute your own people, a nice greeting from Allah at the time of meeting, blessed, pure. Thus Allah narrates to you His signs that you may understand. (Quran 24:61)