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The Etiquette of Eating

1- How to Begin

When a Muslim begins to eat, he should begin with the name of Allah. As the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: 'When one of you eats, he should mention Allah's name ( i.e. say 'Bismillah); if he forgets to mention Allah's name at the beginning, he should say (when he remembers): I begin in the name of Allah at the beginning and at the end of it.'

The Prophet (PBUH) explained that Shaitan (Satan) partakes in the food if the name of Allah is not mentioned at the start of eating. However if one forgets in the beginning and then remembers and says the aforementioned du'aa (supplication), Shaitan is made to vomit out what he (shaitan) has eaten.

2- The Manners of Eating

The best manner in which to eat food is with the right hand. The Companion, Ka'ab ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he saw the Messenger (PBUH) eating with three fingers and when he finished, he would lick them. Another thing which the Prophet (PBUH) taught us about the man*ners of eating is that we should always eat from what is near*est to us and not from the middle of the plate. The reason for this is that the blessings come down upon the food in its mid*dle, therefore it should be left to last.



3- The Manners of Sitting whilst Eating

It would probably come as no surprise to us to learn that unlike the arrogant manner traditionally associated with the Greeks and Romans, the Prophet (PBUH) would never eat from a reclining position.

His whole life was a model of modesty and humility and this was no less in his manner of eating. The Companion Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he saw Allah's Messenger squatting and eating dates. It was true that the Prophet said: "I do not eat while reclining. I do sit like the slave of Allah and I do eat like him."

4- Don't Criticize Food

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) never criticize food. If he liked it, he would eat it, but if he disliked it, he just left it.

This is how our Prophet (PBUH) was. Yet if we look to ourselves today, we find that we are ever ready to criticize whatever we find on our plate. This is extreme ingratitude to Allah on our part and next time we think of complaining about food or maybe moaning that 'there's nothing to eat' even though our fridges are full, we should spare a thought for all those people both Muslims and non-Muslims who don't know where their next meal is coming from. So we should instead be grateful as instructed by Allah: "O you who believe, eat of the good (lawful) things We have provided you with, and be grateful to Allah, If it is (indeed) He whom you worship." (2:172)

5- Don't Eat too Much

One of the worst habits we have adopted as a result of our relatively luxurious lifestyle is the habit of overeating and not showing any restraint in that. How many times can we think of where we have eaten so much that we can barely breathe, or where we can feel the food coming up to our throats? This eating pattern does not befit the Muslim, who should do all things in moderation, including his eating. The Prophet, (PBUH) said: "A believer eats in one intestine, whereas a non-believer eats in seven intestines" (Muslim)

Therefore it is not for us to eat till we are completely satiated; rather we should eat such that the hunger goes but there is still room for more.


6- After Eating

When we have finished eating, we should always remember Allah 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 for Allah, who has given me this (food to eat] and provided me without any effort or power on my part', he will have his sins forgiven." (Tirmithi)

We Can extract most of the etiquette of eating from the following hadith (saying of the prophet):

Narrated by Umar bin Abi Salama: " I was a boy under the care of Allah's Apostle (pbuh) and my hand used to go around the dish while I was eating. So Allah's Apostle (PBUH) said to me: ' O boy! Mention the name of Allah, eat with your right hand and eat of the dish what is nearer to you." (Bukhari)

Etiquette of Drinking Water

Water should be drunk in three gulp-intervals - taking a breath after each gulp. 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 helps one avoid doing things in haste.

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to drink in three gulps.




The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) also prohibited us from breathing in the drinking vessel because the bad smell or spittle may flow into the drink. This is both loathsome as well as injurious to one's health. Abu Qatadah ( May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) forbade breathing into the vessel while drinking.



Finally, We can sum up the etiquette of drinking in the following points:

1. Never drink 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 drafts.

4. Invoke Allah when you drink and praise him when you finish. It is reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Do not drink the water in one draft just like camels but drink it in one or three gushes, and invoke Allah when you drink and praise him when you finish."