190 – Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “When supper is served, begin with it before you pray Maghrib.” Agreed upon. (1)

Lessons derived from the ḥadīth:
1 – When the time for Maghrib has entered and supper is on the table while people are eager to eat, it is preferable to eat first and then perform the prayer. Some Mālikīs argue that this ruling is general and not confined to one specific prayer; although the report mentions Maghrib, it contains nothing that restricts the ruling to that prayer alone.
2 – The rationale is that prayer calls for the heart’s presence. Hunger distracts the heart and hinders reverence in the prayer, so eating first was preferred in order for the prayer to be performed with peace of mind and attentive presence.
3 – The ḥadīth teaches that anything which distracts the self from prayer or prevents the heart from reflecting on the meanings of its recitations, remembrances, and movements between its pillars should be set aside.
4 – The majority of scholars consider giving precedence to food over prayer to be recommended, and this is the sound view. The Ẓāhirīs, however, deemed it obligatory and, adhering to the outward sense of the text, did not regard the prayer as valid if offered while the food was ready.
5 – If the time for an obligatory prayer is so tight that eating first would cause its time to lapse, the majority rule that the prayer takes precedence in order to preserve its appointed time. Those who deem khushūʿ (humble attentiveness) to be obligatory in prayer, however, require eating first.