Some of Islamic guidelines on foods and drinks

Some of Islamic guidelines on foods and drinks

❶A Muslim should ensure that his food is lawful.

God says ﴾O messengers, eat from the good foods and work righteousness. Indeed, I, of what you do, am Knowing﴿ 

Chapter of the Believers. Verse NO 51

﴾O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is [indeed] Him that you worship﴿ 

Chapter of the Heifer. Verse NO 172

◊Consequences will be serious if he eats unlawful food. He will be one of the people of Hell-Fire. 

His invocation is not answered, and his deeds are not accepted.

●Abu Hurairah reported: 

The Prophet ﷺ made a mention of the person who travels for a long period of time, his hair disheveled and covered with dust. 

He lifts his hand towards the sky and says, “O Lord! O Lord!” Yet his food is from the unlawful, his drink is from the unlawful, his clothing is from the unlawful, and he has been nourished by the unlawful. 

So how can then this supplication be accepted?

Reference: Sahih Muslim. Book 12, Hadith 83

̶̶❷He should start eating and drinking with mentioning the name of Allah

If he forgets to do so, he can mention the name of Allah during his eating.

●It was narrated from 'A'ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 

“When one of you wants to eat, he should mention Allah’s Name in the beginning (i.e., say: “Bismillah”). 

If he forgets to do it in the beginning, he should say: ‘In the name of Allah at the beginning and at the end of it (Bismillah awwalahu wa aakhirahu).’”

Reference: Sunan Abi-Daoud. Book 28, Hadith 32

●Umaiyyah ibn Makhshi reported: 

The Messenger of Allah was sitting while a man was eating food. 

The man did not mention the name of Allah till only a morsel of food was left. 

When he raised it to his mouth, he said, “In the name of Allah, at the beginning and at the end (Bismillah awwalahu wa aakhirahu).” 

The Messenger of Allah smiled at this and said, “The Devil kept eating along with him, but when he mentioned Allah’s Name, the Devil vomited what was in his belly.”

Reference: Riyad As-Saaliheen. Book 3, Hadith 732

●It was narrated from Jabir ibn 'Abd Allah that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “When a person enters his house and mentions Allah’s Name at the time of entering it and at eating food, the Devil says (addressing himself): 

‘You have no place to spend the night and no dinner.’

But when he enters without mentioning the name of Allah, the Devil says, ‘You have found a place to spend the night.’

And when he does not mention Allah’s Name while eating food, the Devil says, ‘You have found a place to spend the night and dinner.’”

Reference: Sahih Muslim. Book 36, Hadith 136

❸He should eat and drink using his right hand

●It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, 

“When one of you eats he should eat with his right hand, and when he drinks he should drink with his right hand, for the Devil eats and drinks with his left hand.”

Reference: Sahih Muslim. Book 36, Hadith 139

●Salamah ibn AL-Akwa' reported on the authority of his father that a person ate with his left hand in the presence of Allah’s Messengerﷺ, whereupon he said, “Eat with your right hand.” 

The man said, “I cannot do that.” 

The Prophet said, “May you not be able to do that.” 

It was vanity that prevented him from doing it and he could not raise it (his right hand) up to his mouth afterwards.

Reference: Sahih Muslim. Book 36, Hadith 142

●'Umar ibn Abi Salamah reported: I was under the care of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ and as my hand used to roam about in the dish, he said to me:

“Boy, mention Allah’s Name, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is near to you.”

Reference: Sahih Muslim. Book 36, Hadith 143

●Anas ibn Malik reported that there was brought to Allah’s Messenger ﷺ a cup of milk mixed with water, while there was on his right a desert Arab and on his left Abu-Bakr. 

He (the Holy Prophet) drank, then he gave it to the desert Arab and said: “(Give to one) who is on the right, then again who is on the right.”

Reference: Sahih Muslim. Book 36, Hadith 163

❹He should benefit from food and do not waste it.

●Jabir reported: I heard Allah’s Apostle ﷺ saying, 

“The Devil is present with anyone of you in everything he does. 

He is present even when he eats food, so if anyone of you drops a mouthful, he should remove away anything filthy on it and eat it and not leave it for the Devil. 

And when he finishes (food) he should lick his fingers, for he does not know in what portion of his food the blessing lies.”

Reference: Sahih Muslim. Book 36, Hadith 177

❺A Muslim should eat from the sides of the vessel of food and not from its middle.

●Ibn 'Abbas reported: The Prophet ﷺ said, 

“Blessing descends upon food in its middle, so eat from the sides of the vessel and do not eat from its middle.”

Reference: Riyad As-Saaliheen. Book 3, Hadith 744  [At-Tirmidhi and Abu-Daoud]

●'Abdullah ibn Busr reported: The Prophet ﷺ had a large bowl called “AL-Gharra'”, which would be carried by four men. 

One day, when the Companions finished their forenoon optional prayer (Duha), AL-Gharra' was brought full of sopped bread, meat, and broth, and they sat down around it.

When their number increased, Messenger of Allah sat down on his knees and rested on the soles of his feet. 

A Bedouin said to him: “What sort of sitting is that?” 

Thereupon Messenger of Allah said, “Verily, Allah has made me a courteous servant not a fierce tyrant.” Then he said, “Eat from the sides of the bowl and leave the central part of it so that your food will be blessed.”

Reference: Riyad As-Saaliheen. Book 3, Hadith 745  [Abu-Daoud]

❻He should praise Allah after he finishes eating

●It was narrated from Mu'adh ibn Anas that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “Whoever eats food and says, ‘Praise is to Allah Who has fed me this and provided it for me without any effort from me nor power’, his past sins will be forgiven.”

Reference: Jami' At-Tirmidhi. Book 48, Hadith 89

●It was narrated from Anas that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 

“Allah will be pleased with His servant who praises Him when he eats and praises Him when he drinks.”

Reference: Riyad As-Saaliheen. Book 1, Hadith 140  [Muslim]

●Ibn 'Abbas reported: 

I entered with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Khalid ibn AL-Waleed the house of Maymunah, so she brought us a vessel of milk. 

The Messenger of Allah drank from it. I was upon his right and Khalid was upon his left, so he said to me, “The (turn to) drink is for you, so if you wish, you could choose to grant it to Khalid.” 

So, I said, “I would not prefer anyone (above myself) for your leftovers.”

 Then the Messenger of Allah said, “Whoever Allah feeds some food, then let him say, ‘O Allah bless it for us, and feed us better than it.’ And whomever Allah gives milk to drink, then let him say, ‘O Allah bless it for us, and grant us increase in it.’”

Reference: Jami' At-Tirmidhi. Book 48, Hadith 86

❼The best food is that you eat together.

●Wahshi ibn Harb reported: 

Some of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “We eat but are not satisfied.” 

He ﷺ said, “Perhaps you eat separately.” 

They replied, “Yes.” 

He said, “Eat together and mention Allah’s name over your food. It will be blessed for you.”

Reference: Sunan Abi-Daoud. Book 28, Hadith 29

●Jabir ibn Abd-Allah reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 

“The food of one person suffices for two persons, the food of two persons suffices for four persons, and the food of four persons suffices for eight persons.”

Reference: Sahih Muslim. Book 36, Hadith 242

●It was narrated from Abi-Musa that Allah’s Apostle ﷺ said, 

“When the people of Ash'ari tribe ran short of food during the holy battles, or the food of their families in AL- Madinah ran short, they collected all their remaining food in one garment and then divided it among themselves equally from one vessel. They are from me and I am from them.”

Reference: Sahih AL-Bukhari. Book 47, Hadith 4

❽The stomach is the house of diseases, and diet is the basis of treatment (the best medicine).

The more a person accustoms his stomach to small amounts of food, the more his stomach is relieved. 

He should not sit to eat and then forgets himself so that he cannot stand up, and as a result, he opens the door widely to get various gastro-intestinal diseases.

●Miqdam ibn Ma'dikarb (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: 

I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: 

“No man fills a container worse than his stomach. A few morsels that keep his back upright are sufficient for him. 

If he has to, then he should keep one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for his breathing.”

Reference: Riyad As-Saaliheen. Book 1, Hadith 516   [At-Tirmidhi]

●It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, 

“A believer eats in one intestine (is satisfied with a little food), and a disbeliever eats in seven intestines (eats much food).”

Reference: Sahih Muslim. Book 36, Hadith 246

◊Allah has summarized medicine in half a verse: ﴾And eat and drink, but be not excessive﴿ Chapter of the Heights.

֍Imam Ali said, “The relief of the body is that you sit before food when you desire it, and you leave it while you still desire it.”

◊An aphorism states, “Overeating eliminates intelligence.”

֎'Umar ibn AL-Khattab said: 

“Beware of overeating. It causes laziness about prayer, ruins the body, and leads to diseases. You should economize in your food; it makes you away from extravagance, makes the body healthier, and gives more strength for worship.

❾It is a Sunnah to cover the food, and to drink in three gulps. 

●Jabir ibn Abd-Allah reported Allah’s Messenger ﷺ as saying: 

“Cover the vessels and tie the water skin, for there is a night in a year when pestilence descends, and it does not pass an uncovered vessel or an untied water skin but some of that pestilence descending into it.”

Reference: Sahih Muslim. Book 36, Hadith 129

●Ibn 'Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prohibited breathing in the vessel, or blowing into it.

Reference: Jami' At-Tirmidhi. Book 26, Hadith 29

●Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to breathe three times in the course of a drink (he used to drink in three gulps).

Reference: Riyad As-Saaliheen. Book 3, Hadith 757  [AL-Bukhari and Muslim]

●Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri reported: 

The Prophet ﷺ prohibited blowing into the drink. 

A man said to him, “I cannot drink in one breath.” 

He ﷺ said, “Remove the cup away from your mouth and then breathe.” He said, “Sometimes I see something floating in it.” 

He ﷺ said, “Then pour it out (removing that).”

Reference: Muwatta Malik. Book 49, Hadith 1685

❿A believer’s pleasure occurs when he makes the others happy and does not forget the poor.

God says ﴾So eat of them and feed the miserable and poor﴿ 

Chapter of Pilgrimage. Verse No 28

﴾And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive﴿ Chapter of the Man. Verse NO 8

●It was narrated from Abi-Dharr that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Let one of you not consider any good to be insignificant. 

If he has nothing, then let him meet his brother with a smiling face. 

If you buy some meat or cook something in a pot, then increase its broth, and give some of it to your neighbor.”

Reference: Jami' At-Tirmidhi. Book 25, Hadith 49

●'A'ishah reported: We the family of Muhammad ﷺ used to spend (the whole) month in which we did not light the fire (as we had nothing to cook). We had only dates and water.

Reference: Sahih Muslim. Book 55, Hadith 33

●'A'ishah reported: 

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ slaughtered a sheep and distributed major portions of its meat. 

Then he asked, “Is there anything left?” 

I replied, “Nothing, except the shoulder.” 

Thereupon he said, “All of it is left except its shoulder.”

Reference: Riyad As-Saaliheen. Book 1, Hadith 558  [At-Tirmidhi]

Note:

The Prophet meant when he said: “All of it is left except its shoulder” that the reward of the sheep would remain, except the shoulder that was not distributed.

●Ibn 'Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went to bed hungry for several successive nights, and his family did not have a thing for supper. Their bread was mostly of barley.

Reference: Riyad As-Saaliheen. Book 1, Hadith 514  [At-Tirmidhi].

God says ﴾And when it is said to them, “Spend from that which Allah has provided for you”, those who disbelieve say to those who believe, “Should we feed one whom, if Allah had willed, He would have fed? You are not but in clear error.” (47) 

And they say, “When is this promise, if you should be truthful?” (48) 

They do not await except one blast which will seize them while they are disputing﴿(49) Chapter of Yaseen.

⓫It is prohibited to eat or drink using utensils of silver or gold.

●Hudhaifah reported: 

The Prophet ﷺ prohibited us from eating or drinking in gold or silver utensils, and from wearing silk and brocade or sitting on (anything made from) them.       

Reference: Sahih AL-Bukhari. Book 4, Hadith 809

●It was narrated from Um Salamah that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, 

“He who drinks in gold or silver utensils is only filling his abdomen with Hell-Fire.”

Reference: Sahih Muslim. Book 37. Hadith 3

See also
Foods in Islam

  

      

Foods in Islam

Foods in Islam

Introduction:

Allah has created man, put him on the earth, and found nourishment for him with its all required elements as animals and birds. Allah has made all things on the earth, which make man healthy, lawful to him.

All dead creatures are impure, so it is prohibited to eat them, except fish and locusts.

God says ﴾Prohibited to you are dead creatures, blood﴿  

Chapter of the Table

The blood prohibited in the previous verse is the liquid blood.

●It was narrated from Abd Allah ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 

“Two kinds of dead meat and two kinds of blood have been permitted to us. The two kinds of dead meat are fish and locusts, and the two kinds of blood are the liver and spleen.”

Reference: Sunan Ibn Majah.  Book 29, Hadith 3439

●Ibn Abi Aufa reported: We went on seven expeditions with Allah’s Messenger ﷺ and ate locusts.

Reference: Sahih Muslim.  Book 34, Hadith 74

◊All animals are pure except dogs and pigs and things result from them.

●It was narrated from Motraf ibn Abd-Allah (May Allah be pleased with him) that Allah’s Apostle ﷺ said, 

“When the dog licks the utensil, wash it seven times, and rub it with earth the eighth time.”

Reference: Sunan An-Nasa'i. Book 2, Hadith 12

●It was narrated from Abi-Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet   ﷺ said: 

“If somebody keeps a dog, he will lose one Qirat (carat of the reward) of his good deeds every day, except if he keeps it for guarding the fields or the herd.”

Reference: Sahih Al-Bukhari.  Book 41, Hadith 3

●Jabir ibn Abd-Allah reported: I heard Allah’s Apostle ﷺ, in the year of the Conquest of Makkah, saying: 

“Allah and His Apostle prohibited the trade of alcohol, dead animals, pigs, and idols.”

Reference: Sahih Al-Bukhari.  Book 34, Hadith 182

Lawful (Halal) animals and birds

□Cattle’s meat like camels, cows, and sheep.                                     □Antelopes (oryx).   

□Zebra.                                                  

□Buffalo.                                     

□Gazelles.

God says ﴾And the grazing livestock He has created for you, in them is warmth and benefits, and from them you eat﴿ 

Chapter of Bees. Verse NO 5

□Rabbits and poultry meat.                   

□Crane meat.                             

□Marine animals.

God says ﴾Lawful to you is game from the sea and its food as provision for you and the travelers, but forbidden to you is game from the land as long as you are in the state of consecration (Ihraam)﴿ Chapter of the Table. Verse NO 96

۞There are two opinions about horse meat:

a)    It is legal.

●Asma' reported: We slaughtered a horse and ate it during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger.

Reference: Sahih Muslim.  Book 34, Hadith 54

●Jabir reported: Allah’s Messenger ﷺ allowed us to eat the flesh of horses but he forbade the flesh of donkeys.

Reference: Sunan An-Nasa'i. Book 42, Hadith 66

b)   It is prohibited.

God says ﴾And [He created] the horses, mules, and donkeys for you to ride and [as] adornment. And He creates that which you do not know﴿ 

Chapter of Bees. Verse NO 8

The verse has mentioned horses along with mules and donkeys which are prohibited to eat.

۞A Muslim can eat from the food of the Jews and the Christians unless he thinks that it contains something prohibited like pork fat.

God says ﴾This day [all] good foods have been made lawful, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them﴿ 

Chapter of the Table. Verse NO 5

─ As for their slaughtered animals upon which the name of Allah has not been mentioned:

●'A'ishah reported: 

They (the people) said: “O Messenger of Allah! There are people here, recent converts from polytheism, who bring us meat and we do not know whether or not they mentioned Allah’s name over it.” 

The Messenger ﷺ said: “Mention Allah’s name and eat.”

Reference: Sunan Abi-Daoud. Book 16, Hadith 42

Prohibited (Haraam) animals and birds

□Any animal with fangs: 

a lion, a tiger, a wolf, a fox, a bear, a cheetah, a monkey, a dog, a weasel, a mouse, a cat, a bat, a snake, a lizard, an elephant, a rhino, etc.

□Domestic donkeys.

□Mule meat is prohibited because it is the offspring of male donkey and female horse.

●Abu Mas'ud AL-Ansari reported: Allah’s Apostle prohibited taking the price of a dog, the earnings of a prostitute, and the money given to a fortune-teller.”

Reference: Sahih AL-Bukhari.  Book 76, Hadith 75

●'Ali ibn Abi-Talib reported: Allah’s Messenger, on the Day of Khaibar forbade temporary marriage and eating the flesh of domestic donkeys.

Reference: Sahih Muslim.  Book 16, Hadith 38

□Any bird with talons: a falcon, an eagle, a kite, an owl, a crow, etc.

●Jabir reported: On the Day of Khaibar, the Messenger of Alllah prohibited eating domestic donkeys, the meat of mules, every predator that has fangs, and every bird that has talons.

Reference: Jami' At-Tirmidhi.  Book 18, Hadith 18

□Whatever can live both on the land and in the sea (amphibians) as crocodiles, hippos, frogs, turtles, etc.

□Insects like cockroaches, beetles, ants, bees, flies, mosquitoes, and worms.

□It is prohibited to eat any bird or animal that is not slaughtered according to Islamic law, i.e., not slaughtered by cutting the two jugular veins, the pharynx, and the esophagus.

□It is prohibited to eat any animal or bird, if it is given electric shocks or if its neck is cut, because the neck cutting does not give the body a chance to pump its content of blood.

□It is prohibited to eat any animal or bird that runs into one of the cases mentioned in the following verse

﴾Prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah, and [those animals] killed by strangling or by a violent blow or by a head-long fall or by the goring of horns, and those from which a wild animal has eaten, except what you [are able to] slaughter [before its death],﴿

Chapter of the Table. Verse NO 3

◊ Some may wonder: Christians eat pigs, the Chinese eat monkeys, and the Koreans eat dogs, so why does Islam forbid eating them?

The answer: ﴾And whatever the Messenger has given you ─ take, and what he has forbidden you ─ refrain from. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty﴿ 

Chapter of the Gathering. Verse NO 7

﴾The only statement of the [true] believers when they are called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them is that they say, “We hear and we obey.” And those are the successful﴿ 

Chapter of Light. Verse NO 51

Allah is not obliged to present an explanatory note for everything that He orders us to do.

۞Allah is Merciful to His servants

The coerced hungry person who is about to die, in a desert or in a starvation, can eat an amount of a prohibited food that only keeps him alive, i.e., he does not eat too much of it. Necessity knows no laws.

God says ﴾But whoever is forced by severe hunger with no inclination to sin ─ then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful﴿ 

Chapter of the Table. Verse NO 3

۞The best sugary foods for healthy people

The Prophet ﷺ repeatedly mentioned in his traditions honey, dates, milk, and other foods which were available in that age.

●'A'ishah reported: The Messenger ﷺ used to like sweets and honey.

Reference: Sunan Ibn Majah. Book 29, Hadith 3448

●It was narrated from 'A'ishah that Allah’s Apostle ﷺ said, 

“A family which has dates will not be hungry.”

Reference: Sahih Muslim. Book 36, Hadith 210

●It was narrated from Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas that the Prophet ﷺ said, 

“He who eats seven ('Ajwa) dates every morning, poison and magic will not harm him on that day.”

Reference: Sahih Muslim. Book 36, Hadith 213

●It was narrated from Ibn 'Abbas that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “There is nothing that suffices in the place of food and drink except for milk.”

Reference: Jami' At-Tirmidhi. Book 48, Hadith 86 

●'A'ishah reported: When Allah’s Messenger ﷺ died, we were satisfied by the two black things, i.e., dates and water.

Reference: Sahih AL-Bukhari. Book 70, Hadith 71

●Abu Sa'id AL-Khudri reported: 

A person came to Allah’s Apostle and told him that his brother’s bowels were loose. 

Thereupon Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “Give him honey.” 

So he gave him it and then came and said, “I gave him honey but it has only made his bowels more loose.” He said this three times. 

On the fourth time, the Prophet said, “Give him honey.” 

He said, “I did give him, but it has only made his bowels more loose”, whereupon Allah’s Messenger said, “Allah has spoken the truth and your brother’s bowels are in the wrong.” 

So he made him drink (honey) and he was recovered.

Reference: Sahih Muslim. Book 39, Hadith 122

Note: It is normal that honey causes the bowels to be more loose at first to get rid of the harmful things, then it treats the bowels.

People’s characters vary in accepting or refusing some foods:

●Abu-Hurairah reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ never found fault with food. If he had inclination to eating it, he would eat it; and if he disliked it, he would leave it.

Reference: Riyad As-Saaliheen. Book 3, Hadith 736    [AL-Bukhari and Muslim].

●It was narrated from Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said,          

“He who has eaten onion or garlic or leek should not approach our mosque, because the angels are also offended by (the strong smells) that offend the children of Adam.”

 Reference: Riyad As-Saaaliheen. Book 18, Hadith 1703

●Jabir ibn Samurah reported: 

Allah’s Messenger ﷺ was staying with Abu-Ayyub. When he ate some food, he would send what was left to him. 

So one day he sent him some food but the Prophet did not eat from it. 

So Abu-Ayyub went to the Prophet and mentioned that to him. 

The Prophet said, “It contained garlic.” 

So he said, “O Messenger of Allah! Is it unlawful?” He said, “No, I dislike it because of its odor.”

Reference: Jami' At-Tirmidhi. Book 25, Hadith 21


See also
Some of Islamic guidelines on foods and drinks