We work really hard to earn and to acquire the material adornments of this world, the wealth, the beautiful houses, the fast cars, etc. But the reality is that all these things are temporary and can be snatched from us in the blinking of an eye. Theft, hijackings, accidents, sicknesses are all so common nowadays, there is absolutely no guarantee that a person will really live to enjoy his wealth.

However, when we look at Good Deeds, its rewards are not temporary, but rather they are everlasting and can never be stolen or hijacked, (yes it’s a different matter that if we have wronged someone then on the Day of Qiyamah, our rewards will be given to them). Our Good Deeds will benefit us in this world, but they will come to our aid on the day when we need them the most, the day of Qiyamah!

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ عَمَلًا

أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًا مِّن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍ مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرَآئِكِ ۚ نِعْمَ ٱلثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا

As for those who believe and do good deeds, rest assured that We do not waste the reward of him who does a good work. They are the ones for whom there will be the Gardens of Eden, beneath which rivers flow; they will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, they will wear green garments of fine silk and rich brocade and they will recline on soft couches. What an excellent reward and what a beautiful residence! [Al Kahf 18: 30, 31]

Cleaning and Eating a Dropped Morsel

Our Prophet ﷺ has instructed us that if we accidentally drop a morsel of food on the ground, it should be picked up, even washed if needed, and eaten.

Jabir RA has related the following Prophetic saying:

‏إذا وقعت لقمة أحدكم، فليأخذها فليمط ما كان بها من أذى وليأكلها، ولا يدعها للشيطان، ولا يمسح يده بالمنديل حتى يلعق أصابعه؛ فإنه لا يدرى في أي طعامه البركة‏

Jabir RA reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “When a morsel of any of you falls, he should pick it up and remove any of the dirt on it and then eat it, and should not leave it for Shaytan nor should wipe his hand with towel until he has licked his fingers, for he does not know in what portion of the food the blessing lies.” [Muslim].

Another narration has it:

عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏‏ إِذَا وَقَعَتِ اللُّقْمَةُ مِنْ يَدِ أَحَدِكُمْ فَلْيَمْسَحْ مَا عَلَيْهَا مِنَ الأَذَى وَلْيَأْكُلْهَا ‏

It was narrated from Jabir RA that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“If a morsel falls from the hand of anyone of you, let him wipe off whatever dirt that is on it and eat it.” [Sunan Ibn Majah]

According to the hadith, disrespect for food and drink is a Satanic act, and eating a dropped morsel is a respectful act, which shall surely earn merit and reward and one must not feel ashamed of it.

Unfortunately, today it has become a custom and a habit, not only of children, but even the adults are guilty of this, that if any food falls to the ground, it is immediately discarded or thrown away. Sometimes the food hasn’t even fallen outside in the sand and dirt etc., but rather it has fallen on a clean floor in our house, which was just cleaned the same day, yet just because it fell to the floor, we feel it unfit to consume and throw it away. This is indeed a very bad habit and a pathetic example we setting for our children.

However, if to clean it is impossible, then it is quite another matter.