Hadith: O boy, mention Allah's name, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is nearer to you
عن عمر بن أبي سلمة قال: كنتُ غُلاما في حَجْرِ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، وكانتْ يَدِي تَطِيشُ في الصَّحْفَة، فقالَ لِي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : «يا غُلامُ، سمِّ اَلله، وكُلْ بِيَمِينِك، وكُلْ ممَّا يَلِيكَ» فما زَالَتْ تِلك طِعْمَتِي بَعْدُ.
[صحيح] - [متفق عليه]
المزيــد ...
‘Umar ibn Abu Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I was a young boy under the care of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and my hand used to wander all over the platter (of food). The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: "O boy, mention Allah's name, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is nearer to you." Since then, I have been eating that way.
Sahih/Authentic. - [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
‘Umar ibn Abu Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) was a stepson of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and lived under his care. In this Hadīth, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) mentioned that he used to move his hands all over the bowl to pick food from here and there. Therefore, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) taught him the following three rules of the eating etiquette: 1. Mentioning the name of Allah) before starting to eat. 2. Eating with the right hand. 3. Eating from what is nearer to him, because it is impolite to extend his hand and eat from the same place in front of those seated next to him. However, scholars elaborated that this rule only applies when there is one type of food being eaten in company. Therefore, if there are many types of food like pumpkin, eggplant, and meat, then there is nothing wrong if one stretches his hand to get different types of food. Likewise, if one is eating alone, it is permissible to pick food from the other side, because he will bother none in this case.
Benefits from the Hadith
- Part of the etiquette of eating is to begin it with Basmalah (mentioning the name of Allah).
- It is obligatory to eat with the right hand and prohibited to do so with the left one, except for a valid excuse. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Let no one of you eat with his left hand or drink with his left hand, for indeed the devil eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand.” Imitating the devil is prohibited, and whoever imitates some people are indeed one of them.
- It is recommended to teach the ignorant, young or old, especially those under one’s care.
- Part of the etiquette of eating is for one to eat from the side next to him and not go past it to the other sides.
- The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would comply with the etiquettes the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) taught them, as indicated by ‘Umar’s statement: “I have always followed this way of eating ever since.”
Categories
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