—this blessing.
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It is recommended to pronounce the basmalah at the start of a meal. Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah relate from ʿAʾishah that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When any of you eats, let him say, ‘In the name of Allah.’ If he forgets to do so at the beginning, let him say, ‘In the name of Allah, at its beginning and at its end.’”
The jurists said: It is Sunnah to say simply, “In the name of Allah.”
The author adds: If one were to include “the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful” when eating, that would be praiseworthy, for it is more complete—unlike in the case of slaughter. -
It is obligatory to eat with the right hand and forbidden to eat with the left, except for a valid excuse. Imam Ahmad (in his Musnad) and Muslim relate from Ibn ʿUmar that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “None of you must eat with his left hand or drink with his left hand, for Satan eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand.” Following Satan is therefore unlawful; whoever imitates a people is counted among them.
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It is recommended to teach those who are unaware—whether adults or children, especially those under one’s care—for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you will be questioned about his flock.” ʿUmar ibn Abi Salamah was the Prophet’s stepson and lived in his household.
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Proper etiquette is to eat from the portion directly in front of oneself and not reach over to other sides. In one chain of hadith 912, ʿUmar ibn Abi Salamah said: “I was a boy being brought up by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and my hand would roam around the dish. He said to me, ‘Young man! Mention the name of Allah, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is in front of you.’”
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It is recommended to begin eating from the edges of the vessel and not from its center, for blessing descends upon the middle.
One of the benefits of starting at the edges is that whatever remains of the food stays clean, untouched by anyone’s hand, so those who come after the first diners may benefit from it. Beginning at the center, on the other hand, spoils the food and makes it repulsive for those who follow, so it is discarded even if it is plentiful.