Islamic Manners Of Eating And Drinking

Health is one of the mainly magnificent graces of Allah (s.w) to his slave and one of his most venerable and abundant donations.
     Al-Bukhari (an authentic book of prophetic traditions) has narrated that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) has said:
"There are two favours that many people are prejudiced by it: The health and the leisure."
     At-Tirmizi (an authentic book of prophetic traditions) and others have reported from a hadith (a prophetic tradition) by Abdullah bin Mash Alan sari (r.a) that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) has said:
"The one who is physically healthy, safe in his community and is sufficiently nurtured will possess the whole world."
     It is reported from At-Tirmizi from Abu-Hurairah (r.a) that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) has said:
"The first question asked to a believer at the Day of Resurrection concerning the delights of this world is: Have not we preserved your body and quenched your thirst with cold water?!"
   Thus, some predecessors said that these Divine words:
(Then, shall ye be questioned that Day about the joy (ye indulged in) designate: The health.)
     Anas (r.a) relates from the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) that he (the prophet) did not criticize any food ever: When he desired a food, he used to eat it, or else he used to leave it and abstain from eating it, but he did not prohibit those who desire it or who are habituated to eat if from consuming it.

The Sunnats Of Eating
1.    To wash both hands up to the wrists
2.    To spread out the dastarkhan (table cloth)
3.    To recite Bismillah
4.    To eat with the right hand (unless you are incapable of)
5.    To eat from that which is in front of you.
       If there is a variety of food in the dastarkhan then one could eat whatever one likes. One should
       stretch out his hand (in order to get the food) after the other person has drawn his hand back.
6.    To eat with 3 three fingers. This helps to digest the food (scientifically proven) as a result by
       eating bit by bit. It is the most efficient method of eating. Eating with five fingers and the palm of
       the hand is very un-hygienic and this implies the filling of the stomach by food and the digestive
       organs could be blocked, which leads to the human being's death.
7.    To clean the plate, bowl, etc. and to lick the fingers.
8.    To pick up and eat a fallen morsel, and not to leave the same for satan. In this way a person will
       find his sustenance in abundance. According to one hadith, the fallen morsel, if taken, become
       maihir (dower) for hoouries of the heaven and Allah, the Almighty would keep him and his
       off springs safe from leprosy, leucoderma and lunacy.
9.    Not to find fault in food.
10.  Not to blow in food as a result of carbon dioxide been released.
11.  Not to lean while eating.
12.  To read the du'aa after the meals.
13.  To get up after lifting the dastarkhan and to read the du'aa whilst lifting the dastarkhan.
14.  To gargle the mouth.
15.  To wash the hands after eating.
16.  To recite a special du'aa after having iftar (breaking fast) or after having eaten at another
       person's house.
The Sunnats Of Drinking
     There are five sunnats of drinking:
1.   Never drink from a bottle (carbon dioxide is released in the bottle).
2.   Do not drink from the mug's cleft and do not breathe in the beverage.
3.   Drink in three drafts. (sips). The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) has said:
      "The water quenches the thirst and is sanitary."
4.   Invoke Allah (s.w) when you drink and praise him when you finish. It is reported in a hadith that the
      Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said:
      "Do not drink the water in one draft just like camels but drink it in one or three gushes,
      and  invoke Allah (s.w) when you drink and praise him when you finish."
5.   Do not drink while standing up.
      The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) used to drink while sitting. This way was his usual guidance. It was true that
      he prohibited a person to drink while standing and infact he ordered the standing drinker to vomit
      this water as he drank it while standing up. One group of people have stated that this order was just
      to guide people and to adopt the best option. Drinking Zam Zam water is permissible while
      standing up as the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) did because this is a case of necessity.
      The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) has prohibited us to drink water lying our faces downwards, as he
      prohibited us from  drawing water with the hands, saying:
      "Do not lick the water like a dog and do not taste the water at night before examining it
      out of fear that the recipient is covered during the night."
      If a person drinks by the mouth while standing up from an elevated basin, there would be no
      difference between drinking with the hand or by the mouth, because drinking with the mouth is
      very dangerous if the drinker is lying faced down on his venture.
Manners of sitting whilst eating
Regarding the manners of sitting when eating it was the habit of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) that he did not eat whilst reclining.
     It was true that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said:
"I do not eat while reclining. I do sit like the slave of Allah and I do eat like him."
It is narrated in a hadith that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) prohibited the man to eat while lying with his face  downward.
      The concept of reclining has been explained in various ways:
1.   To sit cross-legged.
2.   To lean on an object.
3.   To lean upon a flank (side).
Regarding  number 3, (to lean upon  a flank) it is the most harmful way of sitting because when you lean upon a flank it alters the natural way of food . The other two (to sit cross-legged  and to lean on an object ) are the ways the powerful people sit who go contrary to slavery. Thus, the Holy Prophet  said:
"I do eat like the slave of Allah does" and the Holy Prophet  ate sitting on his heels. He has said that he ate leaning on his knees, the method is by placing the inside of his left foot the back of his right foot; as a sign of modesty towards Allah (s.w) of politeness between his hands and of respect for the food and the guest. This way of eating is proven to be the best and safest, because all the organs are left in their natural condition which Allah the powerful created, including the civilized position .
One should not also lean on pillows and mattresses because this position was the powerful people and the ones who eat excessively.
      Abu Nu'aim has related that "The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) prohibited sleeping immediately after dinner as he said that this fact hardens the heart." Thus, the doctors have advised us to walk after dinner about one hundred steps and prohibit sleeping immediately after as this is very harmful. The muslim Doctors say that one should pray after supper so that the aliments settle at the bottom of the stomach in order to make the digestion easier and better.