Food and Eating Habits According to the Sunnah

 بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

By Imaam Ibnul-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah رحمه الله

Comprehensive notes covering the most important qualities of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in regards to food and diet. [Zaadul-Ma’aad (p. 2/397-406)]

FOOD:

[1]: When he صلى الله عليه وسلم put his hand in the food, he would say: “بسم الله (Bismillaah: with the Name of Allaah),” and he told people to say this when eating. He said: “When any one of you eats, let him mention the name of Allaah. If he forgets to mention the name of Allaah at the beginning, let him say ‘بسم الله في اوله وآخره (Bismillaahi fee awwalihi wa aakhirihi,’: with the name of Allaah, at its beginning and at its end).” [Saheeh: Related by at-Tirmidhee (no. 1859) and Aboo Daawood (no. 3767)]

The correct view is that it is obligatory to mention the name of Allaah (saying Bismillaah) when eating. The ahaadeeth which state this are Saheeh (authentic) and are clear, with no contradictions in them.

[2]: When صلى الله عليه وسلم he raised the food to his mouth, he would say: “الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيهِ ، غَيْرَ مَكْفِيٍّ وَلَا مُوَدَّعٍ ، وَلَا مُسْتَغْنًى عَنْهُ رَبَّنَا عَزَّ وَجَلَّ (Al-hamdu lillaahi hamdan katheeran tayyiban mubaarakan feehi, ghayra [makfiyyin wa laa] muwadda’in, wa laa mustaghnan ’anhu Rabbanaa ’azza wa jall: All praise is to Allaah, praise in abundance, good and blessed. It cannot [be compensated for, nor can it] be left, nor can it be done without, our Lord.)” [Related by al-Bukhaaree (no. 5142)]

[3]: He صلى الله عليه وسلم never criticized food at all. If he liked it, he would eat it, and if he did not like it, he would leave it and not say anything. [Related by al-Bukhaaree (no. 3370) and Muslim (no. 2064)]

Or he would say: “I do not feel like eating this.” [Related by al-Bukhaaree (no. 5076) and Muslim (no. 1946)]

[4]: Sometimes he صلى الله عليه وسلم would praise the food, as when he asked his family for food, and they said, “We have nothing but vinegar.” He asked for it and started to eat it, saying: “What good food is vinegar.”[Related by Muslim (no. 5052)]

[5]: He صلى الله عليه وسلم used to talk whilst he was eating, as is seen from the report quoted above about vinegar. And he صلى الله عليه وسلم said to his stepson `Umar Ibn Abee Salamah رضي الله عنه when he was eating with him: “Say Bismillaah and eat from that which is in front of you in the dish.” [Related by al-Bukhaaree (no. 5061) and Muslim (no. 2022)]

[6]: He صلى الله عليه وسلم would repeatedly urge his guests to eat, as generous hosts do, and as is seen in the Hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah رضي الله عنه, related by al-Bukhaaree, about the story of drinking milk, where he repeatedly said to him: “Drink,” and he kept telling him to drink until he (the guest) said: “By the One Who sent you with the truth, I have no more room for it!” [Related by al-Bukhaaree (no. 6087)]

[7]: When he صلى الله عليه وسلم ate with others, he would not leave until he had made du’aa (supplication) for them. He made du’aa in the house of `Abdullaah Ibn Bishr, and said: “اللهم بارك لهم في ما رزقتهم واغفر لهم وارحمهم (O Allaah, bless for them that which You have provided for them, forgive them and have mercy on them).” [Related by Muslim (no. 2042)]

[8]: He صلى الله عليه وسلم commanded people to eat with their right hands and forbade them to eat with their left hands. He said: “The Shaytaan eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand.” [Related by Muslim (no. 2020)]

This implies that eating with the left hand is Haraam (unlawful), and this is the correct view, because the one who eats with his left hand is either a Shaytaan (devil), or he is imitating the Shaytaan.  It was also reported in an authentic Hadeeth that he told a man who was eating with his left hand in his presence: “Eat with your right hand!” The man (arrogantly) said: “I cannot.” He said: “May you never be able to,” and the man never lifted his right hand to his mouth after that. [Related by Muslim (no. 2021)]

If it was permissible (to eat with the left hand), he would not have prayed against him for doing so. It was the man’s stubborn arrogance that made him refuse to obey the command, and this is the utmost disobedience which deserved this prayer against him.

[9]: He صلى الله عليه وسلم commanded those who complained that they never felt full, to eat together and not separately, and to mention the name of Allaah (say Bismillaah) over the food so that He تعالى might bless it for them. [Saheeh: Narrated by Abu Dawood (3764) and Ibn Maajah (3286)]

[10]: It was also reported that he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “I do not eat reclining.” [Related by al-Bukhaaree (no. 5083)]

[11]: He used to eat using the first three fingers (of his right hand), which is the best way of eating.

THE PROPHET’S GUIDANCE REGARDING EATING:

[1]: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to know what he was eating.

[2]: He صلى الله عليه وسلم used to eat what was good for him.

[3]: He صلى الله عليه وسلم used to eat enough to keep him going, but not so much as to make him fat. Ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما related that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The believer eats in one stomach whilst the disbeliever eats in seven.” [Related by al-Bukhaaree (no. 5081) and Muslim (no. 2060)]

[4]: He صلى الله عليه وسلم taught his Ummah something to protect them from diseases caused by eating and drinking. He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The son of Aadam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Aadam to eat a few mouthfuls, to keep him going. If he must do that (fill his stomach), then let him fill one third with food, one third with drink and one third with air.” [Saheeh: Related by at-Tirmidhee (no. 1381) and Ibn Maajah (no. 3349). It was authenticated by Shaykh Muhammad Naasirud-Deen al-Albaanee in Silsilatul-Ahaadeethus-Saheehah (no. 2265)]

Source: http://troid.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=546&Itemid=374