731 – Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “Whenever we were present with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at a meal, we would not reach out with our hands until the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had begun and placed his own hand. On one occasion we were with him at a meal when a young girl came up, as though someone were pushing her forward, and she tried to put her hand into the food. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ took hold of her hand. Then a Bedouin appeared, likewise as if being propelled, and he reached for the food; the Messenger of Allah ﷺ seized his hand as well. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then said, ‘Satan regards as lawful any food over which the name of Allah has not been mentioned. He brought this girl so that he might make the food lawful through her, but I seized her hand. Then he brought this Bedouin so that he might make it lawful through him, and I seized his hand. By Him in whose hand is my soul, his (Satan’s) hand is in my hand together with their two hands.’ The Prophet then pronounced the name of Allah and ate.” Narrated by Muslim.

[Explanation]
The author—may Allah have mercy on him—includes in the chapter on dining etiquette the report transmitted from Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamān (may Allah be pleased with him): “Whenever we were present with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at a meal, we would not put our hands in the food until he had begun and placed his hand.” This was due to their perfect respect for the Prophet ﷺ; they would not start eating until he did. One day they attended a meal with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that had been set before him. As they were about to begin, a young girl—that is, a small child—came, as though she were being pushed forward, meaning as if she