It is disliked to blow on the food, to eat it while it is still hot, to eat with fewer or more than three fingers, or with the left hand1; to take from the top or the middle of the dish; to shake one’s hand over the bowl; to lean one’s head toward it when putting a morsel into one’s mouth; to speak of repulsive matters; to eat while reclining or lying down; and to eat so much that it harms one, or so little that it debilitates one.

He should eat and drink with worldly people with courtesy and dignity, with the poor by preferring them to himself, with scholars in a spirit of learning, and with his brothers in a relaxed manner, engaging in pleasant conversation and stories suited to the occasion.

As for the customary practice of giving food to a beggar—or to a cat, for example—its permissibility is a matter on which there are two opinions2.

Section
It is sunnah3, upon finishing the meal, to praise Allah and say: “All praise is for Allah who fed me this food and provided it for me without any power or might of my own.”4 He should pray for the host and leave a small portion uneaten, especially if the host seeks blessing from the leftovers.5