Etiquette of eating and drinking

For every act that a Muslim does, there is a chance for him to earn
some reward for it from Allaah. From praying to per­forming Ghusl
(ritual bath), O Allaah has placedHis Blessings in everything. These
rewards and blessings can be attained only by those keen to follow the
guidance and example ofthe Prophet Muhammad into every aspect of their
lives, thereby seeking nothing but the pleasure of their Creator.
The entire life of such people becomes an act ofworship. Even the act
of eating and drinking, upon which all living things depend, can
become acts of worship. Thus, by acquainting ourselves with the Sunnah
(the tradition of the Prophet ) of eatingand drinking, we too canturn
this mundane exercise into an act of worship and a source of blessing.
The Etiquette of Eating
1- How to Begin
When a Muslim begins to eat, he should begin withthe name of Allaah.
As theProphet Muhammad said: ' When one of you eats, he should mention
Allaah's name (i.e. say Bismillaah). If he forgets to mention Allaah's
nameat the beginning, he should say (when he remembers): I begin in
the name of Allaah at the beginning and at the endof it.'
The Prophet explained that Shaytaan (Satan) partakes in the food if
the name of Allaah is not mentioned at the start of eating. However,
if one forgets in the beginning and then remembers and saysthe
aforementioned Du'aa (supplication), Shaytaan is made to vomit out
what he had eaten.
2- The Manners of Eating
The best manner in which to eat food is with the fingers of the right
hand. The Companion, Ka'ab bin Maalik reported that he saw the
Messenger eating withthree fingers and when he finished, he would
lickthem. Another manner ofeating which the Prophet taught us is that
we should always eat from what is near­est to us andnot from the
middle of the plate. The reason for this is that the blessings come
down upon the food in its mid­dle, therefore it should be leftto last.
[Abu Daawood, eng. Trans. Vol. 3, p. 1064,no. 3763]
3- The Manners of Sitting while Eating.
The Prophet would never eat while in a reclining position. Eating
while reclining was a manner used to show arrogance, as traditionally
associated with the Greeks and Romans.
The whole life of the Prophet was a model of modesty and humility and
this was evident in his manner of eating. TheCompanion Anas reported
that he saw Allaah's Messenger squatting and eating dates [Muslim]. At
other times, the Prophet would sit on his knees as reported by
'Abdullaah bin Busr who said that: "The Prophet wassitting on his
knees upon which a bedouin asked: 'Why are you sitting like this?' The
Prophet replied: "Allaah has mademe a respectable servant and He did
not make me an obstinate tyrant."
4- Do not Criticize Food:
Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet never found fault with food. If
he liked it, he would eat it, but if he disliked it, he just left it.
These are the manners our Prophet who we are enjoined to emulate, who
was the best example for mankind. If we look at the manners of people
nowadays, we will see that people are quick to criticize food. It is a
sign of extreme ingratitude to Allaah, the Provider. Rather, one
should be thankful to Allaah for whatever He has provided us with
andnot complain about its taste. One should also remind oneself that
thereare many people who do not know where their next meal is coming
from. So we should instead be grateful as instructed by Allaah (what
means): " O you who believe, eat of the good (lawful) things We have
provided you with, and be grateful to Allaah,if it is (indeed) He whom
you worship." [Quran 2:172]
5- Do not Eat too Much
In today's times, many people follow a lifestyle in which they over
indulge in food. They eat large quantities until it is difficult for
them to breathe and they can almost feel the food rising to their
throats. Wehave been taught by the Prophet that we should do all
things in moderation, including eating. The Prophet said: "A Believer
eats in one intestine, whereas a non-believer eats in seven
intestines" [Muslim]
Therefore, we should noteat until we are completely satiated; rather
we should eat an amount of food that eliminates the hunger and does
not satisfy us toour fullest.
6- After Eating
When we have finished eating, we should alwaysremember Allaah and be
grateful to Him, for He is the Provider and our Sustainer. We should
express this gratitude in the manner in which the Prophet taught us.
He said: " One who has eaten some food and then says: 'All praise is
forAllaah, who has given methis (food to eat) and provided for me
without any effort or power on my part', he will have his sins
forgiven." [At-Tirmithi]
We can extract most of the etiquettes of eating from the following
Hadeeth: Narrated 'Umar bin Abi Salamah : "I was a boy under the
careof Allaah's Messenger and my hand used to go around the dish while
I was eating. So Allaah's Messenger said to me: 'O young boy! Mention
the name of Allaah, eat with your right hand andeat of the dish what
is nearer to you." [Al-Bukhaari]
Etiquette of Drinking Water
Water should be drunk inthree breaths, that is one should breathe
three times outside the drinking vessel one is drinking from. This
habit has a salutary impact on one's character and helpsone avoid
doing things in haste.
Anas reported: The Messenger of Allaah used to breathe three times in
the course of a drink (he used to drink inthree gulps).
The Messenger of Allaah also prohibited us from breathing in the
drinking vessel because the bad smell or spittle may flow into the
drink. This is both vile as well asinjurious to one's health. Abu
Qataadah reported: "The Prophet forbade breathing into the vessel
while drinking."
To sum up the etiquette of drinking :
1. Never drink straight from a bottle (carbon dioxide is released in
the bottle).
2. Do not drink from the mug's cleft and do not breathe in the beverage.
3. Drink in three draughts.
4. Invoke Allaah when you drink and praise him when you finish.
It is reported that the Prophet said: "Do not drink the water in one
draught just like camels, but drink it in one or three gulps, and
invoke Allaah when you drink and praise Him when youfinish." - -
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