Islamic Diet & Manners

Lifestyle Parenting, Household Affairs and Cuisine corner
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ISLAMIC DIET AND TABLE MANNERS
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Cleanliness and Hygiene**

Cleanliness and hygiene in Islam are emphasized to the extent Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is reported by Ibn Hayyan to have said: “Cleanse yourself, for Islam is cleanliness.” In another Hadith the Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said, “Cleanliness invites towards faith, and faith leads its possessor to the Garden.”
Cleanliness in food handling, cooking, preserving, processing, etc. is highly recommended and emphasized besides an overall cleanliness of body, clothing, home, and surroundings.

Miswak

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) laid special emphasis on cleaning the teeth, hands, and hair. He (PBUH) was particularly careful in the observance of Miswak (brushing teeth). Miswak is an Arabic word meaning tooth cleaner. It is made of wood and the Prophet (PBUH) recommended its use with every ablution (washing for prayer) five times a day and before and after every meal. How our modern day dentists would applaud that advanced view.

Eating Habits

Eating like all other acts of a Muslim is a matter of worship and begins in the name of Allah. Bismallah. Islam reminds Muslims that food and drink are the provision of Allah for survival and for maintaining good health. The following seven habits were recommended by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and are practiced by Muslims all over the world:

  1. Du’a’ (Supplication) before each meal:
    “Bismillah wa ala barkatillah.”
    “In the name of Allah and with the blessings of Allah.”

  2. Du’a’ (Supplication) after each meal:
    “Al hamdu lil lazi at ta mana wa saqana waja-alana minal muslemeen.”
    “Praise be to Allah the One Who gave us the food and the drinks. Praise be to Him Who made us Muslim.”

  3. Eating less:
    Overeating is discouraged and wasting of food is condemned.
    “O children of Adam! Look to your adornment at every place of worship, and eat and drink, but be not prodigals. Lo! He loveth not the prodigals.” (Quran 7:31)
    (Editors note: Prodigal means wasteful or unnecessarily extravagant.)

  4. Dieting:
    One of the main principals of good health is a balanced diet. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) emphasized the behavior of eating less as a method of preventing sickness and diseases. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is reported to have said:
    “Eat less you will be healthier.” (Hadith)
    “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)

  5. Eating slowly:
    Eating slowly is recommended for good health as it facilitates the food being thoroughly chewed and hence easier to digest.

  6. Moderation and sharing:
    Fourteen centuries ago, Islam laid down the basis of dietary regulations as well as the limits within which man can satisfy his physical needs and desires without endangering his life and mental health. Islam motivated people to seek the good of the Hereafter as well as of this world in a balanced way. It taught us to enjoy the pleasures of life, including food, in a moderate way, not becoming a slave to his desires or losing sight of the ultimate spiritual goal. Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) did not permit Muslims to undertake fast which might be harmful and lead to weakness or illness, even though fasting is considered and act of worship.
    'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As told of God’s messenger, “Have you not been informed, 'Abdullah, that you fast during the day and get up at night for prayer?” When he replied that this was so, he said to him, “Do not do it. Fast and break your fast, get up for prayer and sleep, for you have a duty to your body, your eye, your wife, and your visitors. May he who observes a perpetual fast never fast! Fasting three days a month is equivalent to a perpetual fast. Fast three days every month and recite Qur’an every month.”
    A Muslim is advised to avoid extremes and to choose a moderate course in all his affairs, including his eating habits. “Eat of the good things we have provided for your sustenance, but commit not excess therein.” (Qur’an 20:81)
    We are also encouraged to enjoy life within certain limits which are drawn from the Shari’ah which was built on the Islamic ‘Golden Rule’, “Do not harm or be a cause of harm”, whether for oneself or others. We are cautioned to avoid greed and to enjoy the pleasures of sharing, especially in regard to eating.

  7. Eating together:
    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)
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    Drinking Habits**

It is recommended not to drain a glass of liquid in one continuous draught. The pharynx serves as a common passageway for both food and air, and the pathways for these cross. Intervals while drinking are also recommended to avoid choking. Sitting down while drinking is also recommended.
The Holy Prophet said, "Do not drink water in one gulp (or one breath) like a camel, but take it in two or three installments (with breaks for breath). Take the name of Allah (recite “Bismallah”) when you start drinking and praise Him (say “Alhamdullillah”) when you finish. (Tirmizi)

Table Manners

As Muslims we are required to show compassion, grace, gentleness, and consideration for others. This also extends to the table and how we conduct ourselves with others:

  1. Sitting down while eating.
  2. Eating together and sharing of food.
  3. Serving others first, especially guests.
  4. Host is the first to start eating and the last to finish. (This is the opposite of Western table manners.)
  5. Taking food in smaller portions than needed.
  6. Finishing (cleaning) the plate without leftovers (this too is different from Western tradition where we are taught to always leave a small bit on the plate.)
  7. Eating with the right hand.
  8. Waiting for everyone to finish before finally leaving the table or floor cloth.
  9. Washing hands and mouth before and after eating.
  10. Brushing teeth before and after eating (Miswak).
  11. Sharing food with relatives, friends, neighbors, the needy and destitute.
  12. Eat from the corner of the plate from your side (for one dish communal eating), don’t eat from the middle or the other side of the dish.
  13. As an invited guest it is permissible to ask your host for water or salt. Accept what is offered and don’t request additional items your host may not have available.
  14. When eating in a group, if quantities are limited, share from your plate with the others.
    The Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) is reported to have said, "A plate for one is enough for two, and a plate for two is enough for four.
    It is reported that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) has said that one who serves drinks should himself be the last person to drink. (Tirmizi)
    It is also said that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) never found fault with any food; if he had the inclination, he would eat it, and if he disliked it, he would leave it.
    "If a person takes the name of Allah (i.e., recites Bismillah or Assalamu Alaikum) when he enters his home and when he eats, Satan tells his companions, “Let us go. There is no room for you to pass the night in this house nor food.” If he enters his house without calling to Allah, Satan says to his companions: “You have at least secured lodging.” Then if he does not remember Allah at the time of eating also, Satan says, “You have secured both lodging and food.” (Muslim)

SOURCE : http://www.islamicbulletin.com/newsletters/issue_16/diet.aspx

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Re: Islamic Diet & Manners

THE IMPORTANCE OF EATING MANNERS

Eating manners are very important since it is repeated many times  every day.  	It must be done properly whether eating alone, with family, or with  friends.  	To avoid pretenses, you should train yourself in proper eating manners,  whether  	alone or with your family. It will then become a natural part of your  behaviour,  	and you will be at ease at the table.

THE MANNERS OF EATING

There are certain table manners that are indispensable. Say  'Bismillah' when  	starting, to thank Allah and say 'Alhamdulilah' when finished. Eat what  is in  	front of you. Eat using your right hand. A hypocrite was eating with  his left  	hand when the Prophet saw him and advised him to eat with his right.  The man  	falsely said 'But I cannot' The Prophet said 'May it be so' and the  hypocrite  	was not able to lift his right hand again. 
The companions of the Prophet followed his example in stressing the  use of  	the right hand while eating. Omar was Khalifa when he saw a man eating  with  	his left hand and similarly advised him to eat with his right. The man  answered  	'My right is busy' Omar repeated his request and the man repeated his  answer.  	Omar asked him 'What is it busy with?' The man answered that it had  been severed  	in one of the battles. Omar blamed himself for neglecting such handicap  and  	ordered the treasurer to provide the man with a servant to help him. 
If eating with your hand, use three fingers with small bites,  lifting it  	gently with ease to your mouth. Close your mouth while eating to avoid  unnecessary  	noises. To eat on the floor is nearer to what the Prophet used to do.  However,  	there is no problem to eat at a table. Imam Ghazali said, 'To eat at a  table  	is to make eating easier and there is nothing against that.' Do not  start eating  	ahead of the elders or the nobles. If you are the elder, do not  commence eating  	before everyone is at the table. 
It is preferred that eating should not be conducted in silence. It  is good  	manners to talk during meals. Topics should be nice stories suitable  for eating.  	At the end of the meal, if hands are to be washed, the elder or the  noble should  	be asked to proceed first. 
At the end of a meal, thank Allah as in the Hadith reported by Abo  Dawood  	and Nasa'i in 'the deeds of day and night.' Thank Allah who fed us and  provided  	us with drink. It is very appropriate to make a prayer for your hosts  as it  	is reported by Muslim that Al-Migdad ibn Al-Aswad reported that the  Prophet  	said, 'May Allah feed those who have fed us, and provide drinks to  those who  	provided us with it.' 
Do not express your disapproval or dislike of certain foods. Either  eat it  	or pass it over quietly. Abu Huraira reported that 'the Prophet never  expressed  	his dislike of a food. If he liked it he will eat it. If he disliked  it, he  	will set aside.' 
Do not put in your plate more than can eat. Leftovers could be  thrown out,  	it shouldn't, and wasted. Put smaller portions twice rather than one  large portion  	that you will not eat. The Prophet did not approve of leaving any food  in a  	plate since as he said 'You don't know which portion is blessed'. Food  is a  	blessing of Allah, to misuse it is contrary to Islam. Do not forget the  poor  	and the needy who do not have the portion you are throwing away

THE MANNERS OF DRINKING

Drinking manners are no less important. To start in the name of  Allah is  	a must. Use your right hand to drink. Abo Dawood and Tirmizi related  that Hafsa  	(RA) said 'the Prophet used his right hand for eating and drinking. He  used  	his left for other things [such as personal hygiene].' Do not pour your  drink  	down your throat in one gulp. Drink it in three sips. Ibn Abbas  reported that  	the Prophet said 'Do not drink like a camel. Drink twice or thrice. Say  the  	name of Allah before drinking. Thank Allah after finishing. 
Do not exhale in your glass. This will irritate others and will  smudge the  	glass or the cup. Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet forbade exhaling  in a  	glass or puffing into it. 
Do not drink directly from the jug or the container. Beside being  unhygienic  	behaviour, others may want to drink after you who could be irritated.  Abo Huraira  	narrated that the Prophet forbade drinking directly from the mouth of  the sheepskin  	or the flask. 


**AVOID GLUTTONY**

 	Modesty is the crown (hallmark) of the common people. Keep this  crown on  	your head if invited to a feast or if you are presented with food or  drink.  	Do not be gluttonous devouring food as if you have not eaten for a long  time,  	or as if you have not seen such excellent food before. Do not sample  every dish  	on the table. People, even generous hosts disapprove of greedy eaters.  Be reasonable  	and moderate in enjoying the generosity of your hosts.

GOLD AND SILVER CUTLERY

Do not eat using golden or silver plates or cutlery. This goes  against the  	spirit of Islamic modesty. Pomposity is not an Islamic trait. Bukhari  narrated  	that Huzaifa said the Prophet said 'Do not drink in golden or silver  cups nor  	eat in such plates.' If you were a guest, simply ask your host to  replace it  	with another one.

source : http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=1949&CATE=111

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Re: Islamic Diet & Manners

jazaak Allaho Khair :)

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Re: Islamic Diet & Manners

Very good reading Diamond thanks so much for sharing .. I was surprised to read about the golden and silver plates … We hardly ever see them anywhere except in the Arab countires :cb:

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Re: Islamic Diet & Manners

Hardly any desi follows this..