Eating and Drinking Etiquettes of Prophet Muhammad

Food and drinks are boons of Allah and are bestowed on humans for maintaining good life and health. That’s why Islam has prescribed comprehensive eating and dietary habits.. Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) was the emblem of perfection and his paradigms are to be followed in everyday life. He (PBUH) had developed and practiced remarkable healthy habits. The set of dietary laws which are outlined in the Sunnah are as follows.

1)      Firstly eat everything except that has been declared haram by Allah.

2)      Say Bismillah and du’a of supplication before eating.

3)      Don’t overeat and waste food. It is strongly condemned to do so. Maintain a balanced diet. Hazrat Muhammad said,

"Eat less you will be healthier."

"Nothing is worse than a person who fills his stomach. It should be enough for the son of Adam to have a few bites to satisfy his hunger. If he wishes more, it should be: one-third for his food, one-third for his liquids, and one-third for his breath." (Tarmazi, ibn Majah and Hakim)

4)      The Holy Prophet (s.a.w) never ate reclining. While taking meals it is desirable to sit in a manner that the knees are upwards and the bottom of the feet touches the ground or in a manner that only right knee is kept upward and the left knee touches the ground making a sitting posture. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) as a gesture of courtesy used to keep the inner side of his left foot over the back of the right foot.

5)      Never criticize the food nor find fault in it. If you don’t like it, don’t eat it.

6)      Share and suppress greed especially while eating. The sharing of food is emphasized by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). “He is not a believer who eats to his fill but his neighbor goes without food.”[Sahih Bukhari]

7)      Eat slowly as it digests the food easily

8)      The benefits of enjoying meals together applies whether it's a family sitting down together, a husband and wife dining out, or a young couple getting to know one another. The Prophet (pbuh) emphasized the importance of this when he said, "Eat together and not separately, for the blessing is associated with the company." (Ibn Majah)

9)      The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) said that one should eat and drink with his right hand for Satan eats and drinks with the left hand. [Khasa'il-e-Nabawi]

10)  If piece of food falls down then pick it up, clean and eat it. Don’t leave it for the satan.

11)  Never drink water after meals. It’s strongly prohibited neither is it the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (PBUH). Similarly He used to drink water while sitting. In authentic traditions, it occurs that he has forbidden drinking water standing and has even forbidden drinking with one hand.

Allah says in the Quran “Certainly there is for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent example.” [Holy Quran 33-21]. Therefore one should follow the habits and etiquettes of Prophet Muhammad in everyday life.