Eating etiquettes of the Prophet (pbuh)

The Holy Prophet's (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) guidance with regard to food is the perfect guidance. It was described by Ibn al-Qayyim as follows: 'When he put his hand in the food, he would say, 'Bismillaah' (in the name of Allah), and he told people to say this when eating. He said, "When anyone 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, 'In the name of Allah at its beginning and at its end.'" (Tirmizi and Abu Dawood)

The correct view is that it is obligatory to mention the name of Allah (say Bismillaah) when eating. The Ahadith, which state this are correct and clear, with no contradictions in them. When he raised the food to his mouth, he would say, '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.' (Bukhari)

He never criticised food at all. If he liked it, he would eat it, and if he did not like it, he would leave it and say nothing. (Bukhari and Muslim)

Or he would say, 'I do not feel like eating this.' (Bukhari and Muslim). 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.' (Muslim)

He said to his step-son Umar bin Abi Salamah when he was eating with him: "Say Bismillaah and eat from that which is in front of you in the dish." (Bukhari, Muslim)

He repeatedly urged his guests to eat, as generous hosts do, and as is seen in the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah, narrated by 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!' (Bukhari)

When he ate with others, he would not leave until he prayed for them. He prayed in the house of Abdullah bin Bisr, and said: 'O Allah, bless for them that which You have provided for them, forgive them and have mercy on them.' (Muslim)

He commanded people to eat with their right hands and forbade them to eat with their left hands. He said, 'Satan eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand.' (Muslim). This implies that eating with the left hand is incorrect, because the one who eats with his left hand is either Satan (a devil) or is imitating the Satan.

It was also reported in a Sahih 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. (Muslim)

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. (Abu Dawood and Ibn-e-Maajah).

It was also reported that he said, 'I do not eat reclining.' (Bukhari)

He used to eat using the first three fingers (of his right hand), which is the best way of eating. (Zaad al-Ma'aad)

The Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) 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 no so much as to make him fat. Ibn-e-Umar (Radhi Allaho anhuma) narrated that the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) said, 'The believer eats in one stomach whilst the kaafir eats in seven.' (Bukhari and Muslim)

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.' (Tirmizi)

Food Habits of Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Vinegar:
Prophet Muhammad (Sal Allaho Alaiyhe Wa Sallam) used to eat with olive oil. [That's now a fashion in expensive Italian Restaurants]

Milk:
The Prophet (Sal Allaho Alaiyhe Wa Sallam) said that milk wipes away heat from the heart just as the finger wipes away sweat from the brow. It strengthens the back, improved the brain, renews vision and drives away forgetfulness.

Honey:
Considered to be the best remedy for diarrhoea when mixed in hot water. It is the food of foods, drink of drinks and drug of drugs. It is used for creating appetite, strengthening the stomach, eliminating phlegm; as a meat preservative, hair conditioner, eye salve and mouthwash. It is extremely beneficial in the morning in warm water and is also a Sunnah.

Olive oil:
Excellent treatment for skin and hair, delays old age, and treats inflammation of the stomach.

Mushroom:
The Prophet (Sal Allaho Alaiyhe Wa Sallam) said that mushroom is a good cure for the eyes, it also serves as a form of birth control and arrests paralysis.

Grapes:
The Prophet (Sal Allaho Alaiyhe Wa Sallam) was very fond of grapes - it purifies the blood, provides vigour and health, strengthens the kidneys and clears the bowels.

Dates:
The Prophet (Sal Allaho Alaiyhe Wa Sallam) said that a house without dates has no food and also to be eaten at the time of childbirth.

Figs:
It is a fruit from paradise and a cure for piles.

Barley:
Good for fever in a soup form.

Melon:
The Prophet (Sal Allaho Alaiyhe Wa Sallam) said: "None of your women who are pregnant and eat of water melon will fail to produce off spring who are good in countenance and good in character."

Pomegranate:
The Prophet (Sal Allaho Alaiyhe Wa Sallam) said it cleanses you of Satan and evil aspirations for 40 days.

Water:
The Prophet (Sal Allaho Alaiyhe Wa Sallam) said the best drink in this world and the next is water, when you are thirsty drink it by sips and not gulps, gulping produces sickness of the liver.

So praise be to our beloved Nabi (Sal Allaho Alaiyhe Wa Sallam) who related us with marvelous knowledge which dazzles the wisest minds. May this information be beneficial to all of us Insha'Allah.