Book of Foods
Saying Bismillah before eating
① Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
إذا أكل أحدكم طعاما فليقل : بسم الله ، فإن نسي فى الأول فليقل فى الآخر : بسم الله فى أوله وآخره
“When any one of you eats, let him say Bismillah. And if he forgets to say Bismillah at the beginning, then let him say at the end: بسم الله فى أوله وآخره. In the name of Allah, at its beginning and at its end.”
② Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) also narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was eating with his six companions, when an Arab came and ate it in two bites. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
أما لو أنه سمىٰ لكفاكم
“If he had said Bismillah, this food would have been sufficient for you.”
Instructions regarding feeding others
① Narrated by Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما that a man asked the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم: Which Islam is better? He صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
تطعم الطعام ، وتقرأ السلام علىٰ من عرفت وعلىٰ من لا تعرف
“Feed others and greet both those you know and those you do not know.”
② Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه reports that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
طعام الاثنين كافي الثلاثة ، وطعام الثلاثة كافي الأربعة
“The food of two persons is sufficient for three, and the food of three persons is sufficient for four.”
③ Sayyiduna Jabir رضي الله عنه narrates from the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم that he said:
طعام الواحد يكفي الاثنين ، وطعام الاثنين يكفي الأربعة ، وطعام الأربعة يكفي الثمانية
“The food of one is sufficient for two, the food of two is sufficient for four, and the food of four is sufficient for eight.”
Instructions Regarding Halal Food
① Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
إن الله تعالىٰ طيب لا يقبل إلا طيبا ، وإن الله أمر المؤمنين بما أمر به المرسلين ، فقال تعالىٰ :
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا﴾
وقال تعالىٰ :
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ﴾
ثم ذكر الرجل يطيل السفر أشعت أغبر يمد يديه إلى السماء : يا رب ، يا رب ، ومطعمه حرام ، ومشربه حرام ، وملبسه حرام ، وغذي بالحرام ، فأنىٰ يستجاب لذٰلك؟
“Indeed, Allah is pure and accepts only that which is pure. And Allah has commanded the believers with what He commanded the messengers. Allah said:
‘O messengers, eat from the good things and do righteous deeds.’
And He also said:
‘O you who have believed! Eat from the good things We have provided you.’
Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned a man who travels a long journey, his hair disheveled, his feet dusty, raising his hands to the sky saying: ‘O my Lord! O my Lord!’ While his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful, and his entire nourishment is from unlawful sources. How then can his supplication be accepted?”
② Sayyiduna Abu Sa’id (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
من أكل طيبا وعمل صالحا فى سنة وأمن الناس من بوائقه دخل الجنة
“Whoever eats pure things, acts according to the Sunnah, and people are safe from his evil, will enter Paradise.”
A man said: “O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)! Are these things found among many people in this era?”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
فسيكون فى قرون بعدي
“This will be in the times after me.”
③ Sayyiduna Abu Tamimah narrates from Sayyiduna Jundub (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
“O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)! Advise us.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
إن أول ما ينتن من الإنسان بطنه ، فمن استطاع أن لا يأكل إلا طيبا فليفعل ، ومن استطاع أن لا يحال بينه وبين الجنة بملء كف دم هراقه فليفعل
“The stomach is the first part of the human body to rot. So whoever is able to eat pure things, he should definitely do so. And whoever is able to ensure that there is not even a drop of blood between him and Paradise, he should definitely do so.”
