Tag Archives: Food
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).”
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:
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:
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:
‘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:
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)
