EAT THE SUNNA WAY

EAT THE SUNNA WAY

Wash hands before and after meal

“Whoever wishes goodness and richness of his home to increase should wash his hands before and after the meal.” (Narrated by Ibn Majah).

“The benediction of meal is washing the hands before and after the meal.” (Narrated by Abu Dawud).

Start to eat mentioning the name of God

Whoever eats something should recite Bismillah (In the name of Allah). If he forgets reciting it at the beginning, he should say, “Bismillah at the beginning and at the end” when he remembers. (Narrated by Abu Dawud).

If a person utters the name of Allah when entering home upon his return and eating food, Satan says to his friends, “You will have neither sleep nor supper here!” However, if the person utters the name of God when entering the house but does not utter before eating a meal, Satan says to his friends, “You will have a meal but it is not possible for you to spend the night here.” When the man does not utter the name of God by reciting “Bismillah!” before entering home and eating, Satan says to his friends, “You will be able to eat and sleep here at night.” (Narrated by Muslim).

Sit while having a meal

When Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “The apostle of God (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade drinking anything while standing, and was then asked, “What about eating?” He answered, “This is more severely forbidden.” (Narrated by Muslim).

The way of sitting of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while eating was as follows; he used to sit on his knees or on one knee (ready to jump to his feet) and said, “I am only a slave of God. I eat and sit just like a slave of God. (Imam Bazzar).

Eat with the right hand

“Each one of you should eat with the right hand, drink with the right hand, take with the right hand and give with the right hand. Satan eats and drinks with his left hand, gives with his left hand and takes with his left hand.” (Narrated by Ibn Majah).

Eat what is near you

“Recite ‘Bismillah’ and eat from the side of the plate closer to you and leave the middle. Abundance stands in the middle.” (Narrated by Ibn Majah).

“When the table is set, everyone should eat what is front of them. Nobody should eat from his friend’s side.” (Narrated by Ibn Majah).

Umar Ibn Abi Salama (may God be pleased with him) reports, “I was under the discipline of the apostle of God (peace and blessings be upon him). During the meal, my hand was at any corner of the food plate. The apostle of God warned me, “O son, recite the name of God, use your right hand and eat what is in front of you!” After that, I always ate like that.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari).

Never leave food on the plate

Satan keeps an eye on man on every occasion even while eating.

“No one should leave the dining table until he cleans his dish completely because abundance is at the end of the food.” (Narrated by Muslim).

Never eat hot food

Jabir Bin Abdullah and Asma (may God be pleased with them) narrate that the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Cool your meal, because there is no blessing in hot food.” (Narrated by Abu Dawud).

Abdullah Bin Abbas (may God be pleased with them) reports the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saying, “Do not blow from your mouth into food and water.” (Narrated by At-Tabarani).

Muhammad Yusuf,

As-Salam correspondent