Al-Muqaddimāt al-Mumahhidāt - Ibn Rush al-Jadd - (3/452)

Al-Muqaddimāt al-MumahhidātIbn Rush al-Jadd

to observe such manners with them, whereas they are obliged to observe them with him when eating. If they fail to do so, he should instruct them, as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did in his words to ‘Amr ibn Abī Salamah.

Proper manners when eating with others include eating as they do, taking small mouthfuls and eating at an unhurried pace, even if this differs from one’s usual habit. This also explains the Prophet’s prohibition (peace and blessings be upon him) against taking dates two at a time: that is, eating two dates together when the others are not doing so, even if one is their host.

He may do this when eating with members of his household and children toward whom he is not obliged to observe such manners. It has also been said that this was prohibited only to prevent a person from taking more than his fair share at the expense of those eating with him.

According to this explanation, if he is their host, he may take two dates at a time even if they do not. The more evident view, however, is that the prohibition serves both purposes. Thus, a man should not take two dates at a time when his fellow diners do not, if they are people toward whom he is obliged to observe proper manners—even if he is their host.]

It is recommended that a man refrain from eating greedily and excessively, since this harms him. He should reserve a third of his stomach for food, a third for water, and a third for breathing. He should not eat while reclining, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “As for me, I do not eat while reclining,” and because this is a practice of non-Arabs displaying haughtiness and pride. It is also recommended that he wash the grease from his hand and mouth after finishing his meal, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) instructed this.

“It is reported that he (peace and blessings be upon him) drank milk, then rinsed his mouth and said, ‘It contains fat.’” If his food contains no grease, he need not wash his hand after eating it. When ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb ate food containing no grease, he would wipe his hand on the sole of his foot.

As for washing one’s hand before eating, this is not part of the Sunnah. Mālik disapproved of it, saying, “It is not part of the prescribed practice”—meaning that it is not part of the Sunnah one is instructed to observe and should therefore adhere to—for it is a practice of non-Arabs and has not been transmitted from the early generations. An exception is when a person fears that his hand has touched something he would not wish to bring into contact with the food.

أن يتأدب معهم ويلزمهم أن يتأدبوا معه في الأكل، فإن لم يفعلوا ذلك أمرهم بذلك كما فعل رسول الله ﷺ فيما قاله لعمرو بن أبي سلمة. ومن الأدب إذا أكل الرجل مع القوم أن يأكل كما يأكلون من تصغير اللقم والترسيل في الأكل وإن خالف ذلك عادته. ومن هذا المعنى نهي النبي ﷺ عن القران في التمر، وهو أن يأكل تمرتين إذا لم يقرنوا، وإن كان هو الذي أطعمهم. ويجوز له ذلك إذا أكل مع من لا يلزمه أن يتأدب معهم من أهله وولده. وقد قيل: إنه إنما نهي عن ذلك لئلا يستأثر في الأكل على من يؤاكله بأكثر من حقه. فعلى هذا يجوز له إذا كان هو الذي أطعمهم أن يقرن وإن كانوا لا يقرنون. والأظهر أن يكون النهي عن ذلك للمعنيين جميعا، فلا يقرن الرجل دون أصحابه المؤاكلين له الذين يلزمه أن يتأدب معهم وإن كان هو الذي أطعمهم]. ويستحب للرجل أن لا ينهم في الأكل ويكثر منه، فإن ذلك مما يضر به، فيجعل ثلث بطنه للطعام، وثلثه للماء، وثلثه للنفس. ولا يأكل متكئا؛ لقول النبي ﷺ: «أما أنا فلا آكل متكئا»؛ ولأن ذلك من فعل الأعاجم تجبرا وتكبرا. وأن يغسل يده وفمه من الدسم عند فراغه من الأكل؛ لأمره ﷺ بذلك. «روي أنه ﷺ شرب لبنا فمضمض وقال: إن له دسما.» وإن لم يكن لطعامه دسم لم يكن عليه غسل يده منه، فقد كان عمر بن الخطاب إذا أكل ما لا دسم له مسح يده بباطن قدمه. وأما غسل الرجل يده للأكل فليس من السنة، فقد كرهه مالك وقال فيه: إنه ليس من الأمر أي من السنة المأمور بها فيلزم التزامها؛ لأنها من فعل الأعاجم ولم يرو عن السلف، إلا أن يخشى أن يكون قد مس بيده شيئا يكره أن يباشر به الطعام.