Main good manners of eating in Islam.

“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islām as religion. ” S.5  V.3 — Saheeh International

Islam is a complete religion that teaches us how to behave, especially during our meals.

Below, we will find the main good manners that we have to observe during the meal.

1- Eat lawful things ( Halal and pure Food).

God Almighty says: “Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you with”.  S.2 V. 57

2- Mention the name of Allah before eating by saying ‘Bismillah’, eat with your right hand and eat that nearest to you.

Hadith of Umar Ibn Abi Salamah:

“I was a boy under the care of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ and my hand used to go around the dish while I was eating. So Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said to me:

‘Oh boy! Mention the Name of Allah and eat with your right hand, and eat of the dish what is nearer to you.’

Since then I have applied those instructions when eating.”

Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim

3- Eat together (it’s allowed to eat separately, however, eating together is a blessing).

Abdullah Ibn Umar Narrated:

“I heard my father say: ‘I heard ‘Umar bin Khattab say: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Eat together and do not eat separately, for the blessing is in being together.’”

                                                                                 Sunan Ibn Majah (Hassan)

4- Don’t overeat and don’t waste.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

‘The human does not fill any container that is worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat what will support his back. If this is not possible, then a third for food, a third for drink, and third for his breath.”

Al-Tirmidhi (Sahih)

5- Don’t criticize food, compliment tasty food and be grateful to your host.

Abu Huraira narrates that:

“The Prophet ﷺ did not criticize any food ever. If he desired the food, he would eat it and if he disliked it, he would leave it.”

Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim

6- Praise Allah after eating by saying ‘Alhamdulillah’

Anas Bin Malik narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Allah is pleased with a servant if he eats his food, he praises Allah for it; or if he drinks his drink he praises Allah for it”.

Sahih Muslim

“O you who believe! Eat of the lawful and clean things that We have provided you with, and be grateful to Allah, …” S. 2 V. 172