It’s important to know and teach good etiquette & manners of eating. Every living person, regardless of who they might be, has to eat, and so eating plays a large part in our lives and can have a massive effect on our lifestyle, health and overall appearance too!

For us as Muslims however, Allah ﷻ has given us through his Messenger ﷺ, a flawless example of how one should eat, and the mannerisms involved in eating. There is great hikmah, benefit & initiative behind these manners, many of them have even been scientifically proven to be healthier and minimize health risks. But setting the health gains aside, we as Muslims also win much religious reward when eating in this manner with the intention to do so as a Sunnah.

One should always ensure that the hands are washed and are clean before partaking of anything.

Start with saying Bismillah

It was narrated that ‘Aishah RA said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was eating food with six of his Companions when a Bedouin came and ate it all in two bites. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘If he had said Bismillah, it would have sufficed you (all). When any one of you eats food, let him say Bismillah, and if he forgets to say Bismillah at the beginning, let him say Bismillah fi awwalihi wa akhirih (In the Name of Allah at the beginning and at the end).’” [Ibn Majah]

In Surah Al An’am verse 121 Allah gives clear instructions to be grateful and to declare Allah’s name before eating food.

 وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا۟ مِمَّا لَمْ يُذْكَرِ ٱسْمُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَفِسْقٌ ۗ

“And do not eat of that upon which the name of Allah has not been mentioned, for indeed, it is grave disobedience.

Eating Using your right hand and start with the food nearest on your plate

Umar bin Abu Salamah RA reported: I was a boy under the care of Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and as my hand used to wander around in the dish, he (ﷺ) said to me once, “Mention Allah’s Name (i.e., say Bismillah), eat with your right hand, and eat from what is in front of you.” [Bukhari & Muslim].

Siting on the floor

And it was narrated that He ﷺ said: “I eat as a slave eats and I sit as a slave sits.” [Abu Ya’laa]

I eat as the servant eats, and I sit as the servant sits. Verily, I am only a servant. [Shu’ab al-Iman]

Blessings of Eating Together

Salim bin ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar R said: “I heard my father say: ‘I heard ‘Umar bin Khattab RA say: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

كُلُوا جَمِيعًا وَلاَ تَفَرَّقُوا فَإِنَّ الْبَرَكَةَ مَعَ الْجَمَاعَةِ

‘Eat together and do not eat separately, for the blessing is in being together.’” [Ibn Majah]

Eating with Three Fingers

Ka’b bin Malik RA reported: I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ eating with three fingers (i.e., the thumb, the index finger and the middle finger) and licking them after having finished the food. [Muslim]

Be grateful and do not to criticize food you are given

Narrated Abu Huraira RA:

مَا عَابَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم طَعَامًا قَطُّ، إِنِ اشْتَهَاهُ أَكَلَهُ، وَإِنْ كَرِهَهُ تَرَكَهُ

The Prophet ﷺ never criticized any food (he was invited to) but he used to eat if he liked the food, and leave it if he disliked it. [Bukhari]

Giving good compliments when eating something you like

Jabir RA reported: The Prophet ﷺ asked for sauce and was told that there was nothing except vinegar. He asked for it and began to eat from it saying, “How excellent is vinegar when eaten as sauce! How excellent is vinegar when eaten as Udm!” [Muslim]

Eat was has fallen to the floor

Jabir RA reported:

إِذَا وَقَعَتْ لُقْمَةُ أَحَدِكُمْ فَلْيَأْخُذْهَا فَلْيُمِطْ مَا كَانَ بِهَا مِنْ أَذًى وَلْيَأْكُلْهَا وَلاَ يَدَعْهَا لِلشَّيْطَانِ وَلاَ يَمْسَحْ يَدَهُ بِالْمِنْدِيلِ حَتَّى يَلْعَقَ أَصَابِعَهُ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَدْرِي فِي أَىِّ طَعَامِهِ الْبَرَكَةُ

When any one of you drops a mouthful he should pick it up and remove any of the filth on it, and then eat it, and should not leave it for the Satan, and should not 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]

Eat in moderation, don’t be excessive

It was narrated that ‘Atiyyah bin ‘Amir Al-Juhani said: “I heard Salman, when he was forced to eat food, say: ‘It is sufficient for me that I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:

إِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ شِبَعًا فِي الدُّنْيَا أَطْوَلُهُمْ جُوعًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ

The people who most eat their fill in this world will be the most hungry on the Day of Resurrection. [Ibn Majah]

Praise Allah and be thankful for the food you are given

Anas b. Malik RA reported that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said: Allah is pleased with His servant who says: Alhamdulillah (all praise be to Allah) while taking a morsel of food and while drinking. [Muslim]