Chapters on Food

O people, spread the greeting of peace, feed others, maintain kinship ties, and pray at night when people are asleep, and you will enter Paradise in peace

"O people, spread the greeting of peace, feed others, maintain kinship ties, and pray at night when people are asleep, and you will enter Paradise in peace."

أَفْشُوا السَّلاَمَ وَأَطْعِمُوا الطَّعَامَ وَصِلُوا الأَرْحَامَ وَصَلُّوا بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّاسُ نِيَامٌ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِسَلاَمٍ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Salāam + 9 other versions Explained

“Spread (the greeting og) Salam, offer food (to the needy), and be brothers as Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has honored you.”

"‏ أَفْشُوا السَّلاَمَ وَأَطْعِمُوا الطَّعَامَ وَكُونُوا إِخْوَانًا كَمَا أَمَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 1 other version

“O Messenger of Allah, which (aspect) of Islam is the best?” He said: “Offering food (to the needy) and greeting with Salam those whom you know and those whom you do not know.”

"‏ تُطْعِمُ الطَّعَامَ وَتَقْرَأُ السَّلاَمَ عَلَى مَنْ عَرَفْتَ وَمَنْ لَمْ تَعْرِفْ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr + 11 other versions

“The food of one person is sufficient for two, the food of two is sufficient for four, and the food for four is sufficient for eight.”

"‏ طَعَامُ الْوَاحِدِ يَكْفِي الاِثْنَيْنِ وَطَعَامُ الاِثْنَيْنِ يَكْفِي الأَرْبَعَةَ وَطَعَامُ الأَرْبَعَةِ يَكْفِي الثَّمَانِيَةَ ‏"

Narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh + 22 other versions

“The food of one is sufficient for two, and the food of two is sufficient for three or four, and the food of four is sufficient for five or six.’”

"‏ إِنَّ طَعَامَ الْوَاحِدِ يَكْفِي الاِثْنَيْنِ وَإِنَّ طَعَامَ الاِثْنَيْنِ يَكْفِي الثَّلاَثَةَ وَالأَرْبَعَةَ وَإِنَّ طَعَامَ الأَرْبَعَةِ يَكْفِي الْخَمْسَةَ وَالسِّتَّةَ ‏"

Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattāb

“The believer eats with one intestine and the disbeliever eats with seven intestines.’”

"‏ الْمُؤْمِنُ يَأْكُلُ فِي مِعًى وَاحِدٍ وَالْكَافِرُ يَأْكُلُ فِي سَبْعَةِ أَمْعَاءٍ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 13 other versions

“The disbeliever eats with seven intestines and the believer eats with one intestine.”

"‏ الْكَافِرُ يَأْكُلُ فِي سَبْعَةِ أَمْعَاءٍ وَالْمُؤْمِنُ يَأْكُلُ فِي مِعًى وَاحِدٍ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 10 other versions

“The believer eats with one intestine and the disbeliever eats with seven intestines.”

"‏ الْمُؤْمِنُ يَأْكُلُ فِي مِعًى وَاحِدٍ وَالْكَافِرُ يَأْكُلُ فِي سَبْعَةِ أَمْعَاءٍ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Mūsa al-Ash‘ari + 1 other version

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) never criticized any food. If it pleased him, he would eat it and if it did not he would leave it.” Another chain reports the same.

مَا عَابَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ طَعَامًا قَطُّ إِنْ رَضِيَهُ أَكَلَهُ وَإِلاَّ تَرَكَهُ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 15 other versions

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever would like Allah to increase the goodness of his house, should perform ablution (wash hands) when his breakfast is brought to him and when it is taken away.’”

"‏ مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُكْثِرَ اللَّهُ خَيْرَ بَيْتِهِ فَلْيَتَوَضَّأْ إِذَا حَضَرَ غَدَاؤُهُ وَإِذَا رُفِعَ ‏"

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik

“O Messenger of Allah, are you not going to perform ablution?” He said: ‘Am I going to pray?’

"‏ أُرِيدُ الصَّلاَةَ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

“I do not eat while reclining.”

"‏ لاَ آكُلُ مُتَّكِئًا ‏"

Narrated by Abu Juhayfah + 7 other versions

“I gave the Prophet (ﷺ) a gift of a sheep, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sat on his knees to eat. A Bedouin said: ‘What is this sitting?’ He said: ‘Allah has made me a humble and generous slave (of Allah) and has not made me arrogant and stubborn.’”

"‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ جَعَلَنِي عَبْدًا كَرِيمًا وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْنِي جَبَّارًا عَنِيدًا ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Busr + 4 other versions

“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…

"‏ أَمَا أَنَّهُ لَوْ كَانَ قَالَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ لَكَفَاكُمْ فَإِذَا أَكَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ طَعَامًا فَلْيَقُلْ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ نَسِيَ أَنْ يَقُولَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ فِي أَوَّلِهِ فَلْيَقُلْ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ فِي أَوَّلِهِ…

Narrated by Ā’ishah + 10 other versions

“The Prophet (ﷺ) said to me, when I was eating: ‘Say the Name of Allah, the Glorified and Exalted.’”

"‏ سَمِّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ‏"

Narrated by Umar ibn Abu Salama + 15 other versions

“Let one of you eat with his right hand and drink with his right hand, and take with his right hand and give with his right hand, for Satan eats with his left hand, drinks with his left hand, gives with his left hand and takes with his left hand.”

"‏ لِيَأْكُلْ أَحَدُكُمْ بِيَمِينِهِ وَلْيَشْرَبْ بِيَمِينِهِ وَلْيَأْخُذْ بِيَمِينِهِ وَلْيُعْطِ بِيَمِينِهِ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَأْكُلُ بِشِمَالِهِ وَيَشْرَبُ بِشِمَالِهِ وَيُعْطِي بِشِمَالِهِ وَيَأْخُذُ بِشِمَالِهِ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 2 other versions

“I was a boy in the care of the Prophet (ﷺ) and my hand used to wander all over the plate. He said to me: ‘O boy! Say the Name of Allah, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is in front of you.’”

سَمِّ اللَّهَ وَكُلْ بِيَمِينِكَ وَكُلْ مِمَّا يَلِيكَ ‏"

Narrated by Umar ibn Abu Salama + 15 other versions

“Do not eat with your left hand, for Satan eats with his left hand.”

"‏ لاَ تَأْكُلُوا بِالشِّمَالِ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَأْكُلُ بِالشِّمَالِ ‏"

Narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh + 4 other versions

“When one of you eats food, let him not wipe his hand until he has licked it or has someone else to lick it.”

"‏ إِذَا أَكَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ طَعَامًا فَلاَ يَمْسَحْ يَدَهُ حَتَّى يَلْعَقَهَا أَوْ يُلْعِقَهَا ‏"

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 12 other versions

“None of you should wipe his hand until he has licked it, for he does not know where the blessing if in his food.’”

"‏ لاَ يَمْسَحْ أَحَدُكُمْ يَدَهُ حَتَّى يَلْعَقَهَا فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَدْرِي فِي أَىِّ طَعَامِهِ الْبَرَكَةُ ‏"

Narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh + 22 other versions

“Nubaishah, the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), entered upon us when we were eating from a bowl. He said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever eats from a bowl and cleans it, the bowl will pray for forgiveness for him.”

"‏ مَنْ أَكَلَ فِي قَصْعَةٍ فَلَحِسَهَا اسْتَغْفَرَتْ لَهُ الْقَصْعَةُ ‏"

Narrated by Nubaysha al-Hudhalī + 6 other versions

“My grandmother narrated to me from a man of Hudhail who was called Nubaishah Al-Khair. She said: ‘Nubaishah entered upon us when we were eating from a bowl of ours. He said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever eats from a bowl then cleans it, the bowl will pray for forgiveness for him.’”

"‏ مَنْ أَكَلَ فِي قَصْعَةٍ ثُمَّ لَحِسَهَا اسْتَغْفَرَتْ لَهُ الْقَصْعَةُ ‏"

Narrated by Nubaysha al-Hudhalī + 6 other versions

“When food is served, eat from that which is in front of you, and do not take from what is in front of your companion.’”

"‏ إِذَا وُضِعَتِ الْمَائِدَةُ فَلْيَأْكُلْ مِمَّا يَلِيهِ وَلاَ يَتَنَاوَلْ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَىْ جَلِيسِهِ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar

“The Prophet (ﷺ) was brought a bowl filled with Tharid and fatty meat, and we started to eat from it. My hand was wandering all over, so he said: ‘O ‘Ikrash, eat from one spot, for it is all the same food.’ Then we were brought a plate on which were different kinds of fresh dates, and he hand of…

كُلْ مِنْ مَوْضِعٍ وَاحِدٍ فَإِنَّهُ طَعَامٌ وَاحِدٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ أُتِينَا بِطَبَقٍ فِيهِ أَلْوَانٌ مِنَ الرُّطَبِ فَجَالَتْ يَدُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فِي الطَّبَقِ وَقَالَ ‏"‏ يَا عِكْرَاشُ كُلْ مِنْ…

Narrated by Ikrāsh ibn Dhu’ayb + 2 other versions

“Eat from the sides and leave the top, so that it may be blessed.”

"‏ كُلُوا مِنْ جَوَانِبِهَا وَدَعُوا ذُرْوَتَهَا يُبَارَكْ فِيهَا ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Busr + 4 other versions

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) took hold of the top of the Tharid and said: ‘Eat in the Name of Allah from its sides and leave the top, for the blessing comes from its top.’”

"‏ كُلُوا بِسْمِ اللَّهِ مِنْ حَوَالَيْهَا وَاعْفُوا رَأْسَهَا فَإِنَّ الْبَرَكَةَ تَأْتِيهَا مِنْ فَوْقِهَا ‏"

Narrated by Ibn al-Asqa

“When food is served, take from the sides and leave the middle, for the blessing descends in the middle.”

"‏ إِذَا وُضِعَ الطَّعَامُ فَخُذُوا مِنْ حَافَتِهِ وَذَرُوا وَسَطَهُ فَإِنَّ الْبَرَكَةَ تَنْزِلُ فِي وَسَطِهِ ‏"

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās

“While (he) was eating lunch, a morsel of food fell on the floor. He picked it up, removed whatever dirt had gotten onto it, and ate it. The villagers and farmers winked at one another (finding it odd) and it was said: ‘May Allah help the chief! These villagers and farmers are winking at one…

إِنَّا كُنَّا نَأْمُرُ أَحَدَنَا إِذَا سَقَطَتْ لُقْمَتُهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَهَا فَيُمِيطَ مَا كَانَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَذًى وَيَأْكُلَهَا وَلاَ يَدَعَهَا لِلشَّيْطَانِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Ma‘qil ibn Yasār

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

"‏ إِذَا وَقَعَتِ اللُّقْمَةُ مِنْ يَدِ أَحَدِكُمْ فَلْيَمْسَحْ مَا عَلَيْهَا مِنَ الأَذَى وَلْيَأْكُلْهَا ‏"

Narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh

“Many men have attained perfection but no women have attained perfection except Maryam bint ‘Imran (Mary) and Asiyah the wife of Fir’awn. And the superiority of ‘Aishah over other women is like the superiority of Tharid over all other foods.”

"‏ كَمَلَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ كَثِيرٌ وَلَمْ يَكْمُلْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِلاَّ مَرْيَمُ بِنْتُ عِمْرَانَ وَآسِيَةُ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ وَإِنَّ فَضْلَ عَائِشَةَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ كَفَضْلِ الثَّرِيدِ عَلَى سَائِرِ الطَّعَامِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Mūsa al-Ash‘ari + 10 other versions

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘The superiority of ‘Aishah over other women is like the superiority of Tharid over all other foods.’”

"‏ فَضْلُ عَائِشَةَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ كَفَضْلِ الثَّرِيدِ عَلَى سَائِرِ الطَّعَامِ ‏"

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik + 11 other versions

“During the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) we often did not find anything to eat, and if we did, we did not have handkerchiefs, except our hands, arms and feet. Then we would pray without performing ablution.”

كُنَّا زَمَانَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ وَقَلِيلٌ مَا نَجِدُ الطَّعَامَ فَإِذَا نَحْنُ وَجَدْنَاهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَنَا مَنَادِيلُ إِلاَّ أَكُفَّنَا وَسَوَاعِدَنَا وَأَقْدَامَنَا ثُمَّ نُصَلِّي وَلاَ…

Narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh + 2 other versions

“Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) ate, he would say: Al-hamdu lillahil-ladhi at’amana wa saqana wa ja’alana Muslimin (Praise is to Allah Who has fed us, given us to drink, and made us Muslims).”

"‏ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنَا وَسَقَانَا وَجَعَلَنَا مُسْلِمِينَ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri + 6 other versions

“Al-hamdu lillahi hamdan kathiran tayyiban mubarakan ghaira makfiyyin wa la muwadda’in wa la mustaghnan ‘anhu, Rabbana (Praise is to Allah, abundant good and blessed praise, a never-ending praise, a praise that we will never bid farewell to and an indispensible praise, He is our Lord).”

"‏ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا غَيْرَ مَكْفِيٍّ وَلاَ مُوَدَّعٍ وَلاَ مُسْتَغْنًى عَنْهُ رَبَّنَا ‏"

Narrated by Abu Umāmah + 11 other versions

“Whoever eats food and said: Al- hamdu lillahil-ladhi at’amani hadha wa razaqanihi min ghayri hawlin minni wa la quwwatin (Praise is to Allah Who has fed me this and provided it for me without any strength or power on my part), - his previous sins will be forgiven.”

"‏ مَنْ أَكَلَ طَعَامًا فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنِي هَذَا وَرَزَقَنِيهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَوْلٍ مِنِّي وَلاَ قُوَّةٍ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ ‏"

Narrator: معاذ بن أنس الأنصاري + 4 other versions

Get together over your food and mention the name of Allah, so that it will be blessed for you

They said: O Messenger of Allah, we eat but we do not get satiated. He said: "Perhaps you eat separately." They said: Yes. He then said: "Get together over your food and mention the name of Allah, so that it will be blessed for you."

"‏ فَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَأْكُلُونَ مُتَفَرِّقِينَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا نَعَمْ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَاجْتَمِعُوا عَلَى طَعَامِكُمْ وَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ يُبَارَكْ لَكُمْ فِيهِ ‏"

Narrated by Wahshī + 4 other versions Explained

“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.’”

"‏ كُلُوا جَمِيعًا وَلاَ تَفَرَّقُوا فَإِنَّ الْبَرَكَةَ مَعَ الْجَمَاعَةِ ‏"

Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattāb + 1 other version

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) never blew onto his food or drink, and he did not breathe into the vessel.”

لَمْ يَكُنْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَنْفُخُ فِي طَعَامٍ وَلاَ شَرَابٍ وَلاَ يَتَنَفَّسُ فِي الإِنَاءِ ‏"

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās

“I heard Abu Hurairah say: ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “When the servant of anyone of you brings him his food, let him make him sit by his side and eat with him, and if he refuses then let him give him some.”

"‏ إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَكُمْ خَادِمُهُ بِطَعَامِهِ فَلْيُجْلِسْهُ فَلْيَأْكُلْ مَعَهُ فَإِنْ أَبَى فَلْيُنَاوِلْهُ مِنْهُ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

“When the slave of anyone of you brings his food to him, for which he (the slave) has worked hard and endured heat, let him invite him to eat with him, and if he does not do that then let him take a morsel and put it in his hand.”

"‏ إِذَا أَحَدُكُمْ قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهِ مَمْلُوكُهُ طَعَامًا قَدْ كَفَاهُ عَنَاءَهُ وَحَرَّهُ فَلْيَدْعُهُ فَلْيَأْكُلْ مَعَهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ فَلْيَأْخُذْ لُقْمَةً فَلْيَجْعَلْهَا فِي يَدِهِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

“When the servant of anyone of you brings his food, let him make him sit down with him or give him some of it, for he is the one who put up with its heat and smoke.”

"‏ إِذَا جَاءَ خَادِمُ أَحَدِكُمْ بِطَعَامِهِ فَلْيُقْعِدْهُ مَعَهُ أَوْ لِيُنَاوِلْهُ مِنْهُ فَإِنَّهُ هُوَ الَّذِي وَلِيَ حَرَّهُ وَدُخَانَهُ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd + 1 other version

“The Prophet (ﷺ) never ate from a dish or from an individual plate.” He said: “From where did he eat?” He said: “From the dining sheet.”

مَا أَكَلَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ عَلَى خِوَانٍ وَلاَ فِي سُكُرُّجَةٍ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَعَلاَمَ كَانُوا يَأْكُلُونَ قَالَ عَلَى السُّفَرِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik + 8 other versions

“I never saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) eat from a dish until he died.”

مَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَكَلَ عَلَى خِوَانٍ حَتَّى مَاتَ ‏.‏

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik

It was narrated from ‘Aishah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade standing up before the food had been cleared away.

نَهَى أَنْ يُقَامَ عَنِ الطَّعَامِ حَتَّى يُرْفَعَ ‏.‏

Narrated by Ā’ishah

“When a meal is served, a man should not stand up until it is removed, and he should not take his hand away, even if he is full, until the people have finished. And let him continue eating.* For a man may make his companion shy, causing him to withhold his hand, and perhaps he has a need for the…

"‏ إِذَا وُضِعَتِ الْمَائِدَةُ فَلاَ يَقُومُ رَجُلٌ حَتَّى تُرْفَعَ الْمَائِدَةُ وَلاَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَهُ وَإِنْ شَبِعَ حَتَّى يَفْرُغَ الْقَوْمُ وَلْيُعْذِرْ فَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ يُخْجِلُ جَلِيسَهُ فَيَقْبِضُ يَدَهُ وَعَسَى…

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 1 other version

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘A man has no one to blame but himself, if he goes to bed with a smell emanating from his hand.’”

"‏ أَلاَ لاَ يَلُومَنَّ امْرُؤٌ إِلاَّ نَفْسَهُ يَبِيتُ وَفِي يَدِهِ رِيحُ غَمَرٍ ‏"

Narrated by Fātima

“If anyone of you goes to bed with a smell emanating from his hand, and he does not wash his hand, and something happens to him, he should not blame anyone but himself.”

"‏ إِذَا نَامَ أَحَدُكُمْ وَفِي يَدِهِ رِيحُ غَمَرٍ فَلَمْ يَغْسِلْ يَدَهُ فَأَصَابَهُ شَىْءٌ فَلاَ يَلُومَنَّ إِلاَّ نَفْسَهُ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 9 other versions

“Some food was brought to the Prophet (ﷺ) and it was offered to us. We said: ‘We do not have any appetite for it.’ He said: ‘Do not combine hunger and lies.’”

"‏ لاَ تَجْمَعْنَ جُوعًا وَكَذِبًا ‏"

Narrated by Asmā bint Yazīd + 3 other versions

* “I came to the Prophet (ﷺ) when he was eating breakfast and he said: ‘Come and eat.’ I said: ‘I am fasting. Alas! Would that I had eaten of the food of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).’”

"‏ ادْنُ فَكُلْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي صَائِمٌ فَيَا لَهْفَ نَفْسِي هَلاَّ كُنْتُ طَعِمْتُ مِنْ طَعَامِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik

“At the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) we used to eat bread and meat in the mosque.”

كُنَّا نَأْكُلُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْخُبْزَ وَاللَّحْمَ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullah ibn al-Hārith ibn Jaz