It is reported in the Masnad that Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) said:
“The human being has never filled a container worse than his stomach. Hence, it will be sufficient for the son of Adam to satisfy his hunger with a few bites to strengthen his backbone. If he must eat his fill then he should allow for one third food, one third water, and third air.”
Sunnahs Before and During Eating
1- Mentioning Allah’s name. (Saying: in the name of Allah).
2- Using the right hand.
3- Eating from what is (placed) in front of the eater. These Sunnahs are gathered in this hadith: (O boy, mention Allah’s name, use your right hand and eat from what is (placed) in front of you). Narrated by Muslim.
4- you may clean the food, if it falls, and then eat it:the hadith (if a bite falls from anyone of you, he should rub the dirt off it, then eat it…). Narrated by Muslim.
5- If eating with your hand, Use three fingers in eating: (The Prophet used to eat using three fingers) narrated by Muslim. This is what The beloved Prophet ,often, did and this is better, except when necessary.
6- If you are sitting, the way one sits while eating: kneeling on his knees and the upper face of his feet, or extending the right leg and sitting on the left one, this is the preferable as stated by Al-Hafedh in “Al-Fat’h”.
Sunnahs after eating:
1- If you are eating with your hand , you may wipe the dish with your fingers and lick them. the
beloved Prophet said: (you do not know in which of them the blessing lies).
2- Praising Allah after eating: (Allah is satisfied with the slave, who eats a meal, then praises Him for it), narrated by Muslim. One of the Prophet’s supplications after eating: (All praise is to Allah, Who Has fed me and provided me with this without any strength or power on my part).
The fruit of this supplication: (all his precedent sins are forgiven), It is sound Hadith.
General about Eating
It is reported in a traditions that Abu Huraira, (Allah be pleased with him) Drank milk to satiety from a bowl of milk presented to him from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon Him), until he exclaimed: “I swear by Him who sent you with the message of truth I find no other place for it”
Narrated Abu Huraira (May Allah be pleased with Him) Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon Him) said,
“The food of two persons is sufficient for three, and the food of three persons is sufficient for four persons.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 304, Vol. 7)
And also Narrated Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him) Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon Him) said, “A believer eats in one intestine (is satisfied with a little food), and a kaafir (disbeliever) or a hypocrite eats in seven intestines (eats too much).”(Sahih Al-Bukhari, hadith No.306 vol. 7 the book of drinks)
He also mentioned (Peace and blessing be upon Him) to us the manners of eating our meals.
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them both): The Prophet (May Allah be pleased with Him) said, “When you eat, do not wipe your hands till you have liked it, or had it liked by someone else.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 366, Vol. 7)
Narrated ‘Umar bin Abi Salama (may Allah be pleased with Him): I was a boy under the care of Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon Him) and my and used to go around the dish while eating. So Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon Him) said to me, “O boy! Mention the name of Allah and eat with your right had, and eat of the dish what is hearer to you.” Since then I have applied those instructions when eating. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 529, Vol.7)
He (Peace be upon Him) also Said. Narrated Abu Qatada (Allah be pleased with him) Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon Him) said, “Whenever anyone of you drinks water, he should not breath in the drinking utensil.”(Sahih Al- Bukhari, Hadith No. 155, Vol. 1)
The Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessing be Upon Him) also spoke of how to take dates in our diets, When He (Peace be upon Him) said.
“If somebody takes seven ‘Ajwa dates in the morning, neither magic nor poison will hurt him that day.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 664 Vol. 7)
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Ja’far bin Abi Talib (May Allah be pleased with them both): I saw Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon Him) eating fresh dates with snake-cucumber. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 351, vol. 7)
Narrated by Anas “If the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon Him) liked food he would eat it if he disliked any food he would not touch it but he never criticized any food.” The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon Him) always insisted on having diner, even if it were having a handful of dried dates, and he used to say: “Neglecting dinner accelerates the aging process. (Reported by Imam al-Trmithi)
and eat from what is (placed) in front of you). Narrated by Muslim.
