The human life is very closely associated with food. The Holy Quraan says: “O you who believe! Forbid not the good things, which Allah hath made lawful for you, and transgress not, Lo! Allah loves not transgressors. Eat of that which Allah has bestowed on you as food lawful and good, and keep your duty to Allah in Whom you are believers.” (5:87) 

The Holy Quraan also says: “Eat of that which Allah has bestowed upon you and follow not the footsteps of the devil, for lo! He is an open foe to you.” (6:142) 

Almighty Allah says: “O Children of Adam! Look to your adornment at every place of worship, and eat and drink, but be not prodigal. Lo! He loves not the prodigals. Say: Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah, which He has brought for His bondmen, and the good things of His providing? Say: Such, on the Day of Resurrection, will be only for those who believed during the life of the world. Thus, do We detail Our revelations for people who have knowledge”. (7:31-32) 

The Holy Quraan says: “No blame is there upon the blind nor any blame upon the lame nor any blame upon the sick nor on yourselves if you eat from your houses, 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 fathers’ brothers, or the houses of your mothers’ brothers, or the houses of your mothers’ sisters, or (from that) whereof you hold the keys, or (from the house) of a friend. No sin shall it be for you whether you eat together or apart”. (24:61) 

Sayyiduna Hudhaifah (radi Allahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “The food, upon which the Bismillah is not recited, becomes lawful for Shaytaan.” (Muslim) It means that if we do not recite the Name of Allah at the beginning of taking food, Shaytaan joins us in that food. 

Sayyiduna Jaabir (radi Allahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “When a man comes to his house and recites Bismillah while entering the house and then at the time of eating, Shaytaan says to its offspring, ‘You will neither be allowed to stay nor to eat in this house’. If the man does not recite Bismillah while entering the house, Shaytaan says to its offspring, ‘Now you have got a place to stay in this house.’  And if the man misses Bismillah at the time of eating, Shaytaan says, ‘You have got both, a place to stay and every thing to eat.’” (Muslim) 

Sayyiduna Amr Bin Abi Salmah (radi Allahu anhu) reported: “I was still a child under the care of the Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) when I used to put my hand in the plate at the time of dining. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said to me, ‘Use your right hand and eat what is near you’”. (Bukhari, Muslim)  

Sayyidah Ayesha (radi Allahu anha) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “When one of you eats but forgets to remember Allah over his food, let him say ‘In the Name of Allah, in its beginning and in its end’”. (Abu Da’ood, Tirmidi) 

Sayyiduna Wahshi Bin Harb (radi Allahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Eat sitting together and recite Bismillah as it will bring you abundance in food.” (Abu Da’ood)  

Ibn-e-Majah (radi Allahu anhu) reports: “People said to Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), ‘O Allah’s Apostle (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)! We eat but do not get full satisfaction.’ The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said, ‘Perhaps you eat sitting separately. Eat sitting together and recite Bismillah as it will bring to you abundance in food.’”

Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub (radi Allahu anhu) reports: “We were present in the court of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) when the food was served. We noticed abundance in food in the beginning, which was not there at the end. We asked the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) what was the reason. He said, ‘We had recited Bismillah when we started eating.’ Later a person joined us without reciting Bismillah and as a result Shaytaan shared our food.” (Sharh-e-Sunnah) 

Sayyiduna Umayyah Bin Makhshi (radi Allahu anhu) reports: “A person was eating but he did not take the Name of Allah till there remained nothing of his food except a morsel. When he raised it up to his mouth, he said, ‘In the Name of Allah in its first and last’. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) smiled and said, ‘The devil was eating with you and when you recited Allah’s name, it vomited what was in its belly’”. (Abu Da’ood) It means the “Bismillah” brought back the abundance in food. 

Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub (radi Allahu anhu) reported that whenever the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) took food and drink, he used to say: “All praise is for Allah Who fed and gave drink and made it to be swallowed easily and made it an opening.” (Abu Da’ood) 

Sayyiduna Ibn-e-Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) reported that a cup of soup was brought to the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). Then, he said: “Eat from its sides and don’t eat from its middle, because blessing comes down in its middle”. (Tirmidi, Ibn-e-Majah, Darimi) 

Sayyiduna Hudhaifah (radi Allahu anhu) reports: “We never started eating unless Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) picked up the first morsel. Once we were present in the court of the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) when a girl came running as if someone pushed her. She intended to put her hand in the food when the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) caught her hand. Then a Bedouin came running as if someone was pushing him. He wanted to put his hand in the food but the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) caught his hand and said, ‘When the Name of Allah is not recited over a food, the food becomes lawful for the Shaytaan. The Shaytaan came along with the girl to join her food and I caught Shaytaan’s hand. Then, the Shaytaan came with the Bedouin and wanted to join his food, but I caught Shaytaan’s hand. By Him Who holds my life in His hand, Shaytaan’s hand is in my grip along with the hands of the girls and the Bedouin.’ Then the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) recited Allah’s Name and started eating.” (Muslim) 

Sayyidah Ayesha (radi Allahu anha) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) once wished to purchase a boy. So he threw dates in his presence and the boy ate too much of it. The Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Verily too much eating brings misfortune.” So he ordered for his return. (Bay’haqi)  

Sayyiduna Aqabah Bin Aamir (radi Allahu anhu) reports that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “The food that is eaten without Bismillah is nothing but disease and there is not abundance in it. It is better to recite Bismillah and eat something before the dining mat is folded. If the dining mat is already folded, one should recite Bismillah and lick up his fingers.” (Ibn-e-Asakir) 

Sayyiduna Anas (radi Allahu anhu) reports that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Whenever a person eats or drinks something, he should recite, ‘In the Name of Allah Whose Name it is that makes everything harmless in the heaven and in the earth. O Allah, the Self-Existent, the Eternal’. This will protect him from any disease even if the food contains poison”. (Wailami) 

Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn-e-Omar (radi Allahu anhuma) reports that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “When one of you eats, let him eat with his right hand, and when he drinks, let him drink with his right hand.” 

Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn-e-Omar (radi Allahu anhuma) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “None of you shall ever take food with his left hand, nor shall he drink therewith, because the devil eats with his left hand and drinks therewith”. (Muslim) 

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayra (radi Allahu anhu) reports that the Glorious Prophet of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Use your right hand in eating and drinking, in giving and taking something, as Shaytaan eats, drinks, gives and takes from the left hand”. (Ibn-e-Majah) 

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayra (radi Allahu anhu) reports that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Eating with three fingers is the way of the Prophets. Don’t eat with five fingers, as it is the manner of (uncultured) Bedouin”. (Ibn-e-Al-Najjar) 

Sayyiduna Ka’b Bin Maalik (radi Allahu anhu) reports that the Prophet of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) used to eat with three fingers and licked his fingers before washing his hand after food. (Muslim) 

Sayyiduna Jaabir (radi Allahu anhu) reported that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) directed us to lick our fingers after cleaning the plates and said: “You don’t know which particle of food contains Allah’s blessings”. (Muslim) 

Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn-e-Abbas (radi Allahu anhuma) reports that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Don’t wipe off your hand after food unless you lick your fingers or make someone else lick them.” It means that disciples and Mureeds can lick the fingers of their teacher or Peer respectively. (Bukhari, Muslim) 

Sayyiduna Nubishah (radi Allahu anhu) reports that the beloved Habeeb (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “The utensil that is cleaned with fingers after eating food will pray for the salvation of the eater.” Sayyiduna Zayn (radi Allahu anhu) says: “The utensil says, ‘May Allah set you free from the torment of Hell as you have set me free from the clutches of Shaytaan’”. (Tirmidi, Ibn-e-Majah) 

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayra (radi Allahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Whoso passed the night while there was dirtiness in his hand which he did not wash and which afflicted him, must not blame but himself.” (Tirmidi, Abu Da’ood) 

Sayyiduna Ekrash Bin Jowaib (radi Allahu anhu) reported: “A heavy dish of many soups and boneless mutton were served before us. Then, I took from its sides with my hand and the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) also ate from its front. He put his left hand upon his right hand and said, ‘O Ekrash (radi Allahu anhu)! Eat from one place because it is the same food’. Then a tray with many kinds of dates was brought before us, and I began to eat from my front side and the hand of the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) roamed in the tray. He said, ‘O Ekrash (radi Allahu anhu)! Eat from whichever side you like, as it is not the same dish.’ Then water was brought to us and the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) washed his hands and rubbed his face, hands and head with the moisture of his palms and said, ‘O Ekrash (radi Allahu anhu), this is ablution from the change caused by fire’.” (Tirmidi) 

Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn-e-Abbas (radi Allahu anhuma) reports that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has prevented us to breathe into the utensils of foods and drinks. (Muslim) 

Sayyiduna Jaabir (radi Allahu anhu) reports that the Glorious Prophet of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Shaytaan joins you in your daily chores. He joins you in your food too. Therefore, whenever a morsel slips down from one of you, let him throw off what is stuck therewith of dust and then eat it and not leave it for the devil. When you finish your meal, lick your fingers, because you don’t know wherein of your food, there is blessing”. (Muslim) 

Sayyiduna Juhaifah (radi Allahu anhu) reported that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “I don’t take meal in a leaning state.” (Bukhari) Islam has discarded any form of leaning while eating. A leaning is of various kinds – leaning against a wall, against a pillow or anything of this kind, resting the back on it, leaning upon one hand and taking food by another. There is truth in it according to medical jurisprudence. There are veins in body, which should be given free scope at the time of meal. If leaned against, there is obstruction of these veins and therefore some kind of injury may follow from it.  

Sayyiduna Hasan Basari (radi Allahu anhu) reports that once Sayyiduna Ma’qal bin Yasar (radi Allahu anhu) was dining when he dropped a morsel. He picked it and ate after cleaning it. The Bedouins looked at each other in a sarcastic way. When their gestures were pointed out to him, Sayyiduna Ma’qal (radi Allahu anhu) said: “I cannot leave a tradition of the Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) with the fear of these Ajami (non-Arab) people. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) had directed us to pick up the fallen morsel and eat after cleaning, not leaving it for the Shaytaan.” (Ibn-e-Majah) 

Mother of the Believers, Sayyidah Ayesha (radi Allahu anha), reports that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) came home and saw a piece of bread on the floor. He picked up the piece, and ate it after cleaning it, and said to her: “Ayesha! Pay respect to a good thing, because once the good thing (i.e. bread) goes away from any nation, it never comes back.” (Ibn-e-Majah) 

Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn-e-Umme-Haram (radi Allahu anhu) reports that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Pay respect to the bread as it is from the blessings of the heavens and the earth. Whoso picks up a fallen morsel and eats, will get salvation”. (Tabraani) 

Sayyidah Asma (radi Allahu anha) reports that the Holy Prophet of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Cool your food, as the hot food has no blessing”. (Abu Da’ood) 

Sayyiduna Abu Ummah (radi Allahu anhu) reported that at the time of folding the mat after dinner, the Glorious Prophet of Islam (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) used to recite: “All praises and many praises are due to Allah – praises that are pure and full of blessings for the food which is without sufficiency (which man needs abundantly all the time) and to which we cannot say adieu and Farewell and of which we are not needless. Our Lord, accept our thanksgiving.” (Bukhari) 

Sayyiduna Anas (radi Allahu anhu) reports that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Verily Allah is pleased with him who takes food and praises Allah thereof, or takes drink and praises Allah thereof”. (Muslim) 

Sayyiduna Abu Sa’eed Khudri (radi Allahu anhu) reports that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) used to recite this invocation after finishing his food: “All praises is due to Allah who gave us food and drink and who made us Muslims.” (Tirmidi) 

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayra (radi Allahu anhu) reports that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “A grateful eater is at par with an enduring fasting person”. (Tirmidi) 

Sayyiduna Ibn-e-Abbas (radi Allahu anhuma) reports that the Holy Prophet of Islam (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Whoso eats food should recite, ‘O Allah! Grant us Thy bounties in it and give us better than that,’ and recite this while drinking milk, ‘O Allah! Grant us Thy bounties in it and reward us abundance in it’. There is nothing like milk, which supplements both solid and liquid food”. (Imam Ahmad, Abu Da’ood) 

Sayyidah Ayesha (radi Allahu anha) reports that the Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) asked us not to get up from the dining mat unless the dishes are cleared. (Ibn-e-Majah)  

Sayyiduna Abdullah Bin Omar (radi Allahu anhuma) reports that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “When the dining mat is laid, nobody should leave his place and should not withdraw his hand from food unless all co-eaters finish up. If someone wants to withdraw, he should express his apology to his colleagues.” (Ibn-e-Majah) 

Sayyiduna Salmaan Farsi (radi Allahu anhu) reported: “I read in the Torah that it is a blessing to make ablution (wash hands and mouth) after finishing the food. I narrated it to Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) who said, ‘The blessing of food is an ablution before the food and the other ablution after the food.’” (The ablution here stands to mean washing hands). (Tirmidi, Abu Da’ood) 

Sayyiduna Anas (radi Allahu anhu) reported that the Glorious Prophet of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Put off your shoe when the food is served, as it is more solacing to your feet”. (Darimi) 

Sayyidah Ayesha (radi Allahu anha) reported that Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Don’t cut meat with knife, as it is an act of aliens. Eat meat directly tearing it off with teeth, as it is more tasteful and easy”. (Abu Da’ood) 

Whenever any soup was brought to Sayyidah Asma bint Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhuma), she directed to keep it covered till the heat of its vapour went out. She used to say: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) saying, ‘That has got a great blessing’”. (Darimi) 

Sayyiduna Anas (radi Allahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) never ate food on the dining table nor did he eat in small cups. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) never saw thin bread, till he reached Almighty Allah, or to have ever seen roasted Samit with his own eyes. (Bukhari) Samit is that goat which is stripped of hair and then fried tastefully. This is the practice of the Chinese. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) thought it a luxury and therefore avoided it.  

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayra (radi Allahu anhu) reported that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) never spoke ill of any food. If he liked it, he took it, and if he did not like it, he left it. (Bukhari, Muslim) 

Sayyiduna Sahl Bin Sa’d (radi Allahu anhu) reported: “I did never see Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) to have taken fresh dates ever since Allah  sent him (as a Prophet) till Allah  took his breath”.  He said: “I did not see the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) to have taken sifted flour ever since Allah sent him till He took his breath. He was questioned, ‘How did you take flour without sifting it?’ He said, ‘We used to grind it and blow it off. So what was blown off went away and what remained we cooked and then we ate’”. (Bukhari)  

Sayyiduna Jaabir (radi Allahu anhu) reports that the beloved Habeeb (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “One person’s food is sufficient for two; two persons’ food is sufficient for four and four persons’ food is sufficient for eight”. (Muslim) This is by way of inducement to the Muslims to give their food to the poor and the needy without taking additional trouble of cooking additional food. 

Sayyiduna Qetadah (radi Allahu anhu) from Sayyiduna Anas (radi Allahu anhu) reported that the Glorious Prophet of Islam (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) did take neither food in plate nor in cups, and no thin bread was baked for him. It was questioned to Qetadah (radi Allahu anhu): “On what thing did they take food?” He said: “On dining tray”. (Bukhari) This dining tray was usually big and many people could participate in it. No separate plate was necessary for the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). But this does not prohibit us from taking food in plates and cups if there is no sense of pride and boast therein. 

Sayyiduna Meqdam Bin Ma’di Karb (radi Allahu anhu) reports that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Man has not filled a vessel worse than his belly. The children of Adam need a few morsels to keep their back straight. If someone needs more food, he should fill his belly about one-third with food, one-third with water and keep one-third for breathing.” (Ibn-e-Majah, Tirmidi) 

Sayyiduna Abdullah Bin Omar (radi Allahu anhuma) report that the Prophet of Islam (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) heard the sound of belching and said to the person: “Minimize your belching as he who fills up his belly too much in this world, will be the most hungry person on the day of Judgment.” (Tirmidi) 

Sayyiduna Anas (radi Allahu anhu) reported that he saw the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) eating dates and he was sitting on his buttock in such a position that his knees were erect. (Muslim) 

Sayyiduna Abu-Ayyub al-Ansaari (radi Allahu anhu) reports that whenever any food was served to Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), he used to eat up to his requirement and used to send the remaining food to me. One day he sent the food vessel to me and I saw that he had not taken a single morsel, as there was garlic in it. I asked the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) whether the garlic was unlawful to eat. He said: “No, but I dislike it because of its smell.” (Muslim) 

Sayyiduna Jaabir (radi Allahu anhu) reports that the Holy Prophet of Islam (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Whoso eats garlic or onion, should keep away from or from our Mosque or confine himself to his house.” (Bukhari, Muslim)  

Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) reports that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) asked us not to eat uncooked garlic. (Abu Da’ood) 

Sayyiduna Umm-e-Hani (radi Allahu anha) reports that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) visited my house and said: “Do you have something to eat?” I said: “I have nothing but some dry loaf and vinegar.” He said: “Bring it. The house, which possesses vinegar, is not wanting in lentils”. (Tirmidi) 

Sayyidah Asma Bint Yazid (radi Allahu anha) reports that food was served to the Glorious Prophet of Islam (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) who directed it to us. We said we didn’t feel like eating. He said: “Don’t combine hunger with a lie”. (Ibn-e-Majah) 

Sayyidah Umm-e-Salmah (radi Allahu anha) reports that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Whoso eats or drinks in the utensils of gold or silver casts the Fire of Hell into his belly”. (Muslim)

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayra (radi Allahu anhu) reports that Allah’s Messenger (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “If a fly falls in your food, dip it and throw away as one wing of the fly contains disease and the other contains its cure. The fly puts the disease-containing wing into the food.” (Abu Da’ood) 

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayra (radi Allahu anhu) reports that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “If the person feels particles of food left into the tooth cavities, he can take it out with a tooth pick and spit it or take it out with the tongue and swallow it”. (Darimi, Abu Da’ood) 

Eating food is obligatory in certain conditions. If a man is so hungry that he feels he would die without eating, he must eat that much as could save his life. If he does not eat and dies of hunger, he will be among the sinners. (Durr-e-Mukhtar) 

If lawful things are not readily available, one can consume unlawful things to save his life. The same formula is applicable in the matter of thirst. If a man is so thirsty that he fears he would die of thirst if he does not get anything to drink, and only unlawful things (eg. Wine) are available, he must drink that much wine as could save his life. (Durr-e-Mukhtar)  

If a man is about to die of hunger and thirst and the life-saving food or drink is available with some other person, he should purchase and consume it. If the other person refuses to sell his thing, the dying man can snatch that thing from the other man by force. If the other person also faces the same danger of death, both of them share the life-saving stuff between them and save their lives. (Radd-ul-Muhtar)  

If a man is dying of hunger and the other person offers him his own flesh to eat and save his life, he should not accept this offer as eating human flesh is not permissible even in such an emergency. 

Eating the carrion and drinking wine in acute emergency should not be considered at par with consuming alcohol to cure a disease. 

One should not eat stomach full or more than the actual requirement. If a man overeats with the hope that it would help him observe fast the next day, he is allowed to do that. He can also overeat if he thinks that the guest will also stop eating once he withdraws from the dining mat. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) mentioned overeating as a characteristic of the apostates. 

A person should not under-nourish himself to the extent of having gone too weak to perform Salaah in standing posture. 

There is no harm in eating different types of dry fruits but it is better not to do that.  

If a young man thinks that overeating would add to his sexual desires, he should reduce his food intake. (Alamgiri) 

Some manners of eating: 

1. Wash hands before and after eating,
2. Do not use towel after washing hands before eating,
3. The hands should be dried up with a towel after washing them at the end of eating session,
4. The hands should be washed both up to the wrist. Some people wash only one hand and some wash only the pores of the fingers. This is against the tradition of the Glorious Prophet of Islam (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam).
5. It is better if the man himself pours water on his own hands one by one,
6. An impure man (who needs a bath after the discharge of semen) should also wash his mouth along with both the hands. The menstruating woman need not wash her mouth before taking meals,
7. It is advisable to begin the washing of hands from the younger members before the start of dinner. The washing of hands after the food should start from the elders,
8. Recite Bismillah in a louder voice so that co-eaters may also follow the recitation,
9. Don’t keep any dish over the bread,
10. Don’t wipe off hands or knife with the bread,
11. It is against the table manners to eat with an uncovered head or using a pillow as a support,
12. Eating only the middle portion of bread by throwing the rest is not desirable,
13. Start eating as soon as the bread is served, without waiting for the curry. That is why it is better to serve the bread at the end of service,
14. Start eating from one side of the bowl or plate and not from the middle of the utensil,
15. Start eating with the salt and finish eating with salt as it drives away seventy diseases,
16. It is undesirable to eat things while walking on the road or standing at public places.

Drink:  

Sayyiduna Anas (radi Allahu anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) used to take three breaths in a drink. (Agreed) Muslim added in a narration: He used to say that it is highly thirst removing, most conducive to health and most digestive. 

Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn-e-Abbas (radi Allahu anhuma) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) prohibited drinking from the mouth of a skin-carrier. (Agreed) 

Sayyiduna Abu Sa’eed Khudri (radi Allahu anhu) reported that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) forbade drinking by upsetting the water-pots. And he added in a narration: “And its upsetting is to upset its head and then to take drink from it”. (Agreed) 

Sayyiduna Anas (radi Allahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) prohibited a man to drink in a standing posture.  (Muslim) 

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayra (radi Allahu anhu) reported that the Glorious Prophet of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “None of you shall drink standing. Whoever forgets, let him vomit.” (Muslim) 

Sayyidah Umm-e-Salmah (radi Allahu anha) reported that the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Whoever drinks in a silver cup, the Hell-Fire will flow in his belly with noise.” (Agreed) 

Sayyiduna Hudhaifah (radi Allahu anhu) reported: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) say, ‘Don’t put on silk and embroidered silk, and drink not in cups of gold and silver, and take no food in plates made thereof, because they are for them (unbeliever) in this world and they are for you in the next world’”. (Agreed) 

Sayyiduna Ibn-e-Abbas (radi Allahu anhuma) reported that the Holy Prophet of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) forbade to take breath or to give out breath in drinking pot. (Abu Da’ood)  

In another narration he reports: “The Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: ‘Don’t take drink in one breath like the drinking of camel, but take drink twice or thrice and utter ‘Bismillah’ when you drink and utter ‘Alhamdu Lillah’ when you finish’”. 

Lawful and Unlawful Food:  

The great principle for knowing what is lawful and unlawful food is that what the Holy Quraan and Hadith prohibited is unlawful and what is besides that is lawful. There are certain things, which have not been expressly permitted or prohibited.  These are doubtful things. These are considered as Mubah or simply lawful. There are two things introduced by jurists between lawful and unlawful things: One is Mubah, near the lawful things and the other is Makrooh, near the unlawful things, but nevertheless lawful. The abominable things being near the unlawful things should be avoided as far as possible by pious Muslims, as none should even go to the neighbourhood of the places of destruction or epidemics. In that case, there is but little space to fall into illegality. The pious Muslims should not go even to the borderline of illegality. The Mubah things are lawful and can be taken if constitution and climate permit. 

The effect of food and drink upon the body and temperaments is wonderful. The medical men therefore prescribe special diets for patients, so that indiscriminate diet may not injure the body. Different things have got different properties for different uses according to the requirements of men, and they have naturally got different effect on body. As soundness of mind depends on soundness of body, therefore food and drink may be said to be one of the principal causes, which lead a man to vice, and virtue. The control of food and drink is the control of the vices and promotion of virtues.  

Almighty Allah and His Messenger (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) therefore prescribed such food for men as are conducive to them from a temporal and religious point of view. This is also the reason why lawful food, unlawfully acquired, has been made unlawful as it greatly affects the moral tendency of a man.  

The Holy Quraan and Hadith have expressly prohibited the following foods and things:  

1. Food on which Allah’s Name is not taken or meat of a lawful animal or bird which is not slaughtered in the Name of Allah. The Holy Quraan says: “And don’t eat of that on which Allah’s Name has not been mentioned. That is surely a transgression”. (6:122)
2. Everything which is offered to idols.
3. All animals, which die of themselves without slaughter in the Name of Allah. These include also animals strangled to death, or beaten to death, or killed by a fall, or attacked by horns and killed, or torn to death by beasts.
4. All bloods flowing.
5. All beasts and birds of prey; all quadrupeds that seize prey with teeth, and all birds which seize it with talons, viz., foxes, hyenas, elephants, weasels, kites, crows, raven, crocodiles, insects, domestic asses, mules, swines, and men.
6. All unclean things repugnant to health and morality, viz., dogs, cats, mules, horses, asses, lizards, swines, etc.

In support of these, the following Quraanic verses are quoted: “Forbidden to you is that which dies of itself, and blood, and flesh of swine, and that on which any other than Allah has been invoked, and the strangled animal, and that beaten to death, and that killed by a fall, and that killed by being smitten with horn, and that which wild beasts have eaten except what you slaughter.” (5: 3)

There is a reservation in case of extreme necessity, such as possibilities of death for want of food. In that circumstance, a small quantity of unlawful things, which can barely save life, becomes lawful. The Holy Quraan says: “But whoever is driven to necessity, not desiring, nor exceeding the limit, no sin shall be upon him.” (2: 173) 

It so happens sometimes that the food is being served and suddenly some stranger or guest enters. The master of the house invites the newcomer to join. If the master does not invite the stranger, it is considered a very bad manner. Invitation to a Muslim brother to food is a virtuous thing, but this invitation should not be for the name’s sake. This is also a custom these days that the stranger who is invited to join the food says: “No thanks!” or say “Bismillah”. The scholars have prevented us not to say that. Anybody who is invited to join food should say, “May Allah bless you with abundance in food.”  

If a man is too hungry to go out and ask the people to help him, in that case it is abiding on those persons who know his condition to provide him with food. If the man dies of hunger, the persons who knew his condition but did not give him food, would be answerable to Almighty Allah.

Sayyidah Ayesha (radi Allahu anha) asked Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) what were the things, which we cannot refuse to others. He said: “Water, salt and fire.”  She said: “O Allah’s Apostle (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)! Why can’t we refuse salt and fire to others?” He said: “One who gives others a share in his fire, it is as if he has given in Sadaqa the entire stuff cooked on that fire, and he who gives others a share in his salt, it is as if he has given in Sadaqa the complete dish processed with that salt; and he who quenches the thirst of a Muslim at a place where water is not available, it is as if he resurrects a dead.” (Ibn-e-Majah) 

Sayyiduna Abu Waqed Laithi (radi Allahu anhu) reported that the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) came to Madina and they had liking for humps of camels and for cutting the tails of sheep. He said: “What is taken off from animals while they are alive is a dead thing. It shall not be taken”. (Tirmidi, Abu Da’ood)  

Lawful Foods:  

There are three kinds of things which are generally consumed by men, viz.

1. things of mines,
2. vegetables and crops grown from the earth, and
3. animals.

The first two kinds are lawful except what is injurious to health, life and intelligence. Intoxicating drugs cause harm to intelligence and are, therefore, unlawful. Poisonous plants are injurious to life and they are, therefore, unlawful.  

Among lawful things, there should be some sort of discrimination for the sake of health according to taste and repugnance. Anything distasteful or repugnant to nature should not be eaten, as it may injure health although the thing to be taken is lawful. This version finds corroboration with the Holy Quraan: “O People! Eat the lawful and good things out of what is in the earth.” (2:57) 

Imam Maalik (alaihir rahmah) and others hold that all aquatic animals are lawful except sea-dog and sea-hog. Imam Shafi’i (alaihir rahmah) maintains that all aquatic animals are lawful without discrimination. Imam-e-A’zam Abu Hanifa (alaihir rahmah) holds that fish, which die by accident and float, are lawful but abominable. Sayyiduna Abu Zubair (radi Allahu anhu) reported from Sayyiduna Jaabir (radi Allahu anhu) who said that the Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Eat what the sea throws up (fish) and is left by the tide, and don’t eat what dies therein and floats.” (Abu Da’ood, Ibn-e-Majah) 

Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn-e-Abbas (radi Allahu anhuma) reported that the pre-Islamic Arabs used to eat some things and leave other things out of dislike. Then, Allah sent His Messenger (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and sent down His Book and made lawful His lawful things and made unlawful his unlawful things. Whatever He made lawful is lawful and whatever He made unlawful is unlawful, and whatever He remained silent is allowable. He recited, “O Say: I don’t find any thing prohibited in what was revealed to me for an eater except what dies of itself.” (The Quraan, 6:146) 

Inter-dining: 

As a necessary corollary to the recognition of universal brotherhood of the human race under the common Laws of Almighty Allah , Islam throws open its dining mat to all irrespective of caste, creed, colour and social position. Every member of the Islamic Commonwealth is equally entitled to partake of his food in the same dining mat.  

The Apostle of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) had a big tray, which could be carried by four men. All the Muslims present used to partake of food in that tray, each man eating from its side. So far as the dining table of the followers of other religions is concerned, the Muslims are allowed to partake of their food except what has been made unlawful to be placed in the dining mat of the Muslims themselves.  

The Holy Quraan has not at all prohibited this inter-dining, nor has the Hadith. On the contrary, the Holy Quraan declares: “This day all the good things are allowed to you, and the food of those who have been given the Book is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them.” (5:5)  

Sayyiduna Abu Th’alabah (radi Allahu anhu) reported: “I asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)! We are certainly travellers and pass by the Jews, Christians and the Magians. So we don’t find but their utensils’. He replied: ‘If you don’t find other than those things, wash them with water and eat and drink in them’”. (Tirmidi)