Eating together, eating from the edges of the plate, and the etiquettes of feasting

① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Wahshi bin Harb (may Allah be pleased with him) that the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
“O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)! We eat but do not become full!” He (peace be upon him) said:

فلعلكم تفترقون؟

“Perhaps you eat separately?”
They said: “Yes!”
He (peace be upon him) said:

فاجتمعوا علىٰ طعامكم واذكروا اسم الله يبارك لكم فيه

“Eat together collectively, say the name of Allah, and blessings will be placed in it for you.”

① Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما narrates from the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم that he said:

البركة تنزل وسط الطعام فكلوا من حافته ولا تأكلوا من وسطه

“Blessing descends in the middle of the food, so eat from its edges and do not eat from its middle.”

② Sayyiduna Umar bin Abi Salamah رضي الله عنه states that I was a small child and under the care of the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, and my hand would move around the plate in every direction. Then the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said to me:

يا غلام سم الله وكل بيمينك وكل مما يليك

“O child! Say the name of Allah, and eat with your right hand from in front of you.”

① Sayyiduna Abu Shuraih Adawi رضي الله عنه narrates that when the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said this, both my ears heard it, both my eyes saw it, and my heart preserved it. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:

من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فليكرم ضيفه جائزته

“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his guest and treat him well.”
The Companions رضي الله عنهم asked: O Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم)! How long should one treat him well? The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:

يوم وليلة ، والصيافة ثلاثة أيام فما كان وراء ذٰلك فهو صدقة

“For one night and one day, while the hospitality lasts for three days, and what comes after that is charity.”

② Sayyiduna Abu Kareema رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:

ليلة الضيف واجبة علىٰ كل مسلم فمن أصبح بفنائه فهو عليه دين ، إن شاء اقتضىٰ وإن شاء ترك

“The guest’s night hospitality is obligatory upon every Muslim, so whoever finds himself in his house in the morning, it is a debt upon him; if he wishes, he may demand it, and if he wishes, he may forgive it.”

③ Sayyiduna Malik bin Nadlah رضي الله عنه narrates, I asked: O Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم)! When I pass by a man, he neither keeps me nor hosts me. Then when he passes by me, should I keep him? The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:

لا ، أقره

“Do not keep him.”
He narrates, you saw me in worn-out clothes and said:

هل لك من مال؟

“Do you have wealth?”
I said: Allah has given me all kinds of wealth; I have camels and goats. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:

فلير عليك

“Then their effect should be apparent on you.”