Sunnah/Etiquettes of Eating and Drinking
This article explains the 21 Sunnah of eating in Islam, the Halal food list in Islam as well as Haram food items. We have also explained the Quran’s look on food later in this article.
Islamic scripture outlines food items that are Halal and Haram in Quran surah and Islam dietary rules. The Prophet (SAWS) Muhammad’s (SAWS) characteristics and actions were coined as-Sunnah and guide a Muslim to lead a successful, peaceful, and productive life.
The Sunnah are the manners of eating and drinking in Islam and are as follows:
1. Wash your hands and clean your mouth.
Eating from dirty hands and mouth is wrong as it may lead to contamination. The Prophet (SAWS) used to wash his hands and gargle before and after eating.
2. Spread Dastarkhwan (Table Cloth)
Spread Dastarkhwan on the floor to place all the dishes. Dastarkhwan is used as a sanitary surface for food. The Prophet (SAWS) used to spread a Dastarkhwan before eating and the food was laid on it. This prevents wastage of food.
3. Say the name of Allah before eating and drinking
The last messenger of Allah always says the name of the creator before eating and drinking food and taught his disciples to do the same. It is believed that if you fail to take the name of Allah, Satan can affect your food and take the Barkah of Allah from it.
4. Sit on the Floor to Eat
All must eat on the floor to ensure similarity between all classes. From slaves to the riches, all must eat on the floor as the Prophet (SAWS) would do the same.
5. Use right hand while eating and drinking
Using the right hand while eating and drinking is the ideal way taught by the Prophet (SAWS). The left hand is believed to be the hand of Satan and against the table manners in Islam.
6. Eat from the front
The Prophet (SAWS) always ate from the front to ensure optimal eating manners and avoid mess while eating. The ummah must follow in his footsteps and do the same while eating the Sunnah diet.
7. Compliment tasty food
Complimenting tasty food is important said the Prophet (SAWS) and would do so whoever someone offered him tasty food to eat. This would make people around him happy and content.
8. Do not criticize food
Criticizing the food was not one of the Prophet (SAWS)’s traits; he would simply leave any food item he did not like. This way he was able to avoid hurting the feelings of someone who would cook and bring food for him.
9. Start passing the dishes to the person sitting on the right
The table etiquette that the Prophet (SAWS) followed was to pass the dishes to the person sitting on the right side.
10. Always keep the drinking water covered
The last messenger of Allah used to cover the water pot after drinking water from it. This is one of the Islam foods laws that must be followed by Muslims all across the world.
11. Drink while sitting on the floor and finish the drink in three gulps
When drinking water, you must sit on the floor and finish the drink in three gulps. The Prophet (SAWS) said that this habit promotes health in individuals and also prevents choking.
12. Do not drink water in gold or silver vessels
The Prophet (SAWS) did not drink water from gold and silver vessels as it is an identification of luxury and oppression.
13. Share food
As a way to increase harmony among Muslims, the Prophet (SAWS) said to share food with others. He used to do the same with his Ummah and hence
14. Accept meal invitation
Because meal invitations are a way to increase harmony and help make relationships strong, the Prophet (SAWS) would never reject any meal invitation. The disciples of Prophet (SAWS) Mohammad must share meal invitations and must not reject them.
15. Wipe off the dishes
The Prophet (SAWS) always wiped his dishes after eating Muslim Halal food. This was done to ensure that no food goes to waste and that all the nutrients from the food are received by the person eating it.
16. Lick your fingers
Licking fingers is what the Prophet (SAWS) said is a way to receive all the nutrients from the fruit along with Allah’s blessings. If you choose to clean fingers from a cloth, this would leave you devoid of those blessings.
17. Never waste food
Wasting or discarding food is wrongdoing as per the Prophet (SAWS). It is better to distribute that food among the needy persons. This is how you can minimize the wastage of food and make more food available for those in need.
18. Overeating is a wrong habit
Overeating must be avoided said the Prophet (SAWS) and he also asked his followers to do the same. When you indulge in overeating, it leads to health issues and laziness while decreasing the amount of food available to others.
19. Say praise of Allah after eating
Prophet (SAWS) Mohammad always praised Allah after consuming food. Allah is the provider of food and one must thank him after eating food.
20. Don’t wash your hands on the Plate you ate
When you wash your hands on the plate after eating food the Barakah is washed away. The Prophet (SAWS) used to wash his hands in separate bowl.
21. Do Miswak
One must never have a foul-smelling mouth and hence must do Miswak. There is specific timing to do Miswak including before and after eating food and before entering a Majlis.
