for mere dislike or for outright prohibition. Do not subject yourself to such hair-splitting, because the basic rule for any prohibition issued by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is that it is forbidden, unless evidence proves that it is only discouraged in the sense of tanzīh.

Likewise, when he commands something, do not ask, “Is this obligatory or only recommended?”—just do what he instructed, for that is better for you. If it turns out to be obligatory, you will have discharged your duty and earned a reward; and if it is recommended, you will still have earned a reward and will have followed the Messenger ﷺ in the fullest way. We ask Allah to grant us and you the grace to follow him, outwardly and inwardly.

164 – Ninth: On his authority [i.e., Jābir b. ʿAbd Allāh] that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered that the fingers and the dish be licked and said, “You do not know in which portion the blessing resides.” Narrated by Muslim.

In another narration recorded by Muslim: “When one of you drops a morsel, let him pick it up, remove any dirt from it, and eat it; do not leave it for Satan. And he should not wipe his hand with a napkin until he has licked his fingers, for he does not know in which part of his food the blessing lies.”

Muslim also reports: “Satan attends one of you in everything he does—even at his food. So if a morsel falls from any of you, let him remove whatever dirt is on it and eat it; do not leave it for Satan.”