#2 - The desirability of gathering together at the food
One of the recommendable Prophetic manners in eating is to gather upon the food. Gathering together is one of the means of بركة (blessings) being sent down upon the food. As the number of those who eat increases, as the amount of بركة (blessings) will increase.
Narrated Jabir Ibn 'Abdullah رضي الله عنه: "I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, 'The food of one is sufficient for two, and the food of two is sufficient for four, and the food of four is sufficient for eight." [Muslim]
Ibn Hajar رحمه الله said, "At-Tabarani reported a Hadeeth on the authority of 'Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما which mentions the reason behind the Barakah, saying, "Eat all together and do not separate, for the food of one is sufficient for two...". This indicates that sufficiency is attained due to the Barakah (blessings) of gathering together, and as the gathering increases as the Barakah increases as well." [Fat'h Al-Baari]
This Hadeeth indicates that when people share the same dinner table, a small quantity of food will be enough for many of them. Moreover, this increases love and mutual feelings.
The Hadeeth also means that if one has food which he has determined to be sufficient for him, then another person comes, he should not show miserliness and say, "This is my food." Rather, he should give him from it, and it will be sufficient for them both. This is because getting together at the food will make the food blessed and enough for all.
Wahshi Ibn Harb رضي الله عنهما narrated that his father said on the authority of his grandfather: The companions of the Prophet ﷺ said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! We eat but we are not satisfied." He ﷺ said, "Perhaps you eat separately." They replied, "Yes" He ﷺ said, "If you gather together at your food and mention Allah's name, you will be blessed in it." [Abu Dawud and authenticated by Al-Albani who graded it Hasan]
Shaikh Ibn 'Uthaimeen رحمه الله said regarding those who are not satiated, "This is because of many reasons, such as:
a) Not mentioning the name of Allah on the food. The food which the name of Allah is not mentioned makes the Shaytan eat with the person and thus the Barakah will be removed from his food.
b) Eating food separately. This is one of the means of the removal of the Barakah, because separation entails that each one will eat in a vessel that particular for him. Accordingly, the food is separated and the Barakah is removed. If every person has food in a separate plate or vessel, the food will be divided, but if it is made on one plate, where all people gather at it, then there will be Barakah in that little food. [Sharh Riyadus-Saleheen]
#3 - The recommendation of eating from the side of the vessel
Ibn 'Abbas رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, "When one of you eats, he must not eat from the top of the dish (i.e. Its middle), not from the bottom (i.e. that which is near to him); for the blessing descends from the top of it." [Authenticated by Al-Albaani who graded it Hasan]
Blessing is a phenomenon that is hidden to the naked eye. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was aware of it. It was on the basis of this knowledge that he informed the Companions that the blessings descends on the middle of the food then spreads to its edges. Diners, should therefore, avoid the middle and eat from the sides so that the blessing continues to descend on the middle.
The middle of the food is particularized with the descent of the Barakah, because it is the most just of places. If there was a group of people eating together, the one who precedes others in taking from the middle of the food before its side has behave wrongly with them and kept the good to himself apart of others and Allah knows best ['Awn Al-Ma'bood]
Shaikh Ibn 'Uthaimeen رحمه الله said: The Scholars said that the statement of the Prophet ﷺ, "The blessings descend in the middle of the food" indicates that if a man ate from the top (i.e. Its middle), the Barakah will be removed from the food, unless there were many kinds of food and there was a certain kind in the middle which one wanted some of. For example, when the meat is put on the middle of the plate, then it is permissible to eat a piece of the meat even it is in the middle, because there is none on the sides. This is like how the Prophet ﷺ sought to eat the pieces of gourd from the various sides of the dish." [Sharh Riyadus-Saleheen]
#4 - It is commendable to lick the finger and pick up fallen morsels by cleaning them from dirt then eating it.
Jabir narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded the licking of fingers and gleaning of the dish, saying, "You do not know in which portion the blessing lies." [Muslim]
Jabir also narrated that Allah's Messenger 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 the Shaytan. He should not wipe his hand with a towel until he has licked his fingers, for he does not know in what portion of food the blessing lies in." [Muslim]
This Hadeeth emphasizes the following points:
a) Satan awaits the human, accompanies him, and tries to overpower him. He tries to partake with humans even in their food and drink.
b) Removing dirt from a fallen morsel and eating it is an expression of humility, overcoming the Shaytan, as well as depriving him.
c) The blessing of the food could be in a fallen morsel, therefore, one should not waste or leave it.
d) The wisdom behind licking the fingers and vessel is that the eater never knows whether a blessing lie under what has been eaten by him, or the particles sticking to his fingers and the vessel, or the fallen morsel. Therefore, these particles should not be wasted. They may contain a blessing and prove more useful for the eaters health and strength. Moreover, by this he escapes disregarding the bounty of Allah.
e) The Barakah of the food is to attain nourishment by it, to be safe from its evil end, to strengthen the body on obedience to Allah, and so forth.
[Imam An-Nawawi in his explanation of Hadeeth Muslim]
#5 - Mentioning the name of Allah on the food before eating.
It is narrated with a correct chain of narration from Aaishah رضي الله عنها who said, "The Prophet was eating food with six of his companions. A Bedouin came and ate it in two mouthfuls. So the Messenger of Allah said, "As for him, had he mentioned Allah's Name, it would have been enough for all of you." [Saheeh At-Tirmithi #1858 and graded Sahih by Al-Albani]
This Hadeeth indicates that if one did not mention the name of Allah on his food, the blessings will be removed from it. This is because the Shaytan will eat with him, so the food which he thinks will be sufficient for him will not be sufficient.
Some Scholars said that mentioning the name of Allah when one intends to eat is obligatory. The person who does not mention the name of Allah is considered disobedient to Allah and pleased with the Shaytan, his enemy, to share his food with him.
If one forgets to mention the name of Allah before beginning to eat, he should say it when he remembers during eating or in the end and say:
"بسم الله أوله و آخره"
Bismillah Awwalahu wa Aakhirahu
In the Name of Allah in the beginning and in the end
[At-Tirmithi]
Sources:
- Saheeh Al-Adaab wal Akhlaaq by Shaikh Al-Albaani رحمه الله
- Sharh Riyadus-Saliheen by Shaikh Ibn 'Uthaimeen رحمه الله
- Riyadus-Saliheen by Daarus-Salaam
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