Praise be to Allah.
Eating Habits of Prophet Muhammad
The Prophet’s guidance with regard to food is perfect guidance. It was described by Ibn Al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) as follows:
- When he put his hand in the food, he would say, “ Bismillah (in the Name of Allah) , and he told people to say this when eating. He said, “When any one of you eats, let him mention the name of Allah. If he forgets to mention the name of Allah at the beginning, let him say Bismillahi fi awwalihi wa akhirihi (in the name of Allah at its beginning and at its end).” Authentic Hadith narrated by At-Tirmidhi, 1859 and Abu Dawud, 3767).
The correct view is that it is obligatory to mention the name of Allah (say Bismillah) when eating. The Hadiths which state this are authentic and are clear, with no contradictions in them.
- When he raised the food to his mouth, he would say, “ Al-hamdu Lillahi hamdan kathiran tayyiban mubarakan fihi ghayri makfiyyin wa la muwadda` wa la mustaghni `anhu Rabbana `azza wa jall (Allah be praised with an abundant, beautiful, blessed praise. He is the One Who is Sufficient, Who feeds and is never fed, The One Who is longed for, along with that which is with Him, and the One Who is needed. He is Our Lord, may He be glorified). (Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 5142)
- He never criticized food at all. If he liked it, he would eat it, and if he did not like it, he would leave it and not say anything. (Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 3370; and Muslim, 2064)
Or he would say, “I do not feel like eating this.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 5076; and Muslim, 1946)
- Sometimes he would praise the food, as when he asked his family for food, and they said, “We have nothing but vinegar.” He asked for it and started to eat it, saying, “What a good food is vinegar.” (Narrated by Muslim, 2052)
- He used to talk while he was eating, as is seen from the report quoted above about vinegar. And he said to his step-son `Umar ibn Abu Salamah when he was eating with him: “Say Bismillah and eat from that which is in front of you in the dish*.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 5061 and Muslim, 2022). [* At the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), people used to eat together from one dish, and children would sometimes forget the correct etiquette. - Translator]
- He would repeatedly urge his guests to eat, as generous hosts do, and as is seen in the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah, narrated by Al-Bukhari, about the story of drinking milk, where he repeatedly said to him, “Drink!” and he kept telling him to drink until he (the guest) said, “By the One Who sent you with the truth, I have no more room for it!” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 6087)
- When he ate with others, he would not leave until he had made Du`a for them. He made Du`a in the house of `Abdullah ibn Bisr, and said: “O Allah, bless for them that which You have provided for them, forgive them and have mercy on them.” (Narrated by Muslim, 2042)
- He commanded people to eat with their right hands and forbade them to eat with their left hands. He said, “The Shaytan eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand.” (Narrated by Muslim, 2020). This implies that eating with the left hand is prohibited, and this is the correct view, because the one who eats with his left hand is either a Shaytan (a devil), or he is imitating the Shaytan.
It was also reported in an authentic Hadith that he told a man who was eating with his left hand in his presence, “Eat with your right hand!” The man said, “I cannot.” He said, “May you never be able to!” – and the man never lifted his right hand to his mouth after that. (Narrated by Muslim, 2021) If it was permissible (to eat with the left hand), he would not have prayed against him for doing so. It was the man’s stubborn arrogance that made him refuse to obey the command, and this is the utmost disobedience which deserved this prayer against him.
- He commanded those who complained that they never felt full to eat together and not separately, and to mention the name of Allah (say Bismillah) over the food so that He might bless it for them.” (Narrated by Abu Dawud, 3764 and Ibn Majah, 3286) (See Zad Al-Ma`ad, 2/397-406)
- It was also reported that he said, “I do not eat reclining.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 5083)
- He used to eat using the first three fingers (of his right hand), which is the best way of eating. (See Zad Al-Ma`ad, 220-222)
Diet of the Prophet Muhammad
The Prophet’s guidance regarding diet is as follows:
- The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to know what he was eating.
- He used to eat what was good for him.
- He used to eat enough to keep him going, but not so much as to make him fat. Ibn `Umar narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The believer eats in one stomach while the disbeliever eats in seven.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 5081 and Muslim, 2060)
- He taught his Ummah something to protect them from diseases caused by eating and drinking. He said: “The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat a few mouthfuls, to keep him going. If he must do that (fill his stomach), then let him fill one third with food, one third with drink and one third with air.” (Narrated by At-Tirmidhi, 1381 Ibn Majah, 3349; classed as authentic by Al-Albani in As-Silsilah As-Sahihah, 2265)
And Allah knows best.