Blessing in Food: The Recommendation of Eating Together
Author: Imran Ayyub Lahori
❶ It is narrated:
The Companions (RA) said: "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! We eat but we do not feel full." He ﷺ asked:
تجتمعون على طعامكم أو تتفرقون؟
"Do you eat together or separately?"
They replied: "We eat separately."
He ﷺ said:
واجتمعوا على طعامكم واذكروا اسم الله تعالى يبارك لكم فيه
"Eat together and mention the name of Allah, and your food will be blessed for you."
Hasan li-ghayrih: Sahih al-Targhīb: 2128; Abu Dawood: 3764; Ibn Mājah: 3286; Ibn Ḥibbān: 5224
❷ Ibn ʿUmar (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
كلوا جميعا ولا تتفرقوا فإن طعام الواحد يكفى الإثنين وطعام الإثنين يكفى الأربعة
"Eat together and do not separate, for the food of one person is enough for two, and the food of two is enough for four."
Hasan li-ghayrih: al-Silsilah al-Sahihah: 2691; Sahih al-Targhīb: 2132; al-Ṭabarānī in al-Awsat
❸ Jābir (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إن أحب الطعام إلى الله ما كثرت عليه الأيدي
"The most beloved food to Allah is that upon which many hands are placed."
Hasan li-ghayrih: Sahih al-Targhīb: 2133; Abu Yaʿlā: 2045; al-Ṭabarānī in al-Awsat
❹ Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
طعام الإثنين كافي الثلاثة وطعام الثلاثة كافى الأربعة
"The food of two is enough for three, and the food of three is enough for four."
Bukhari: 5392; Muslim: 2058
❺ Jābir (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
طعام الواحد يكفي الإثنين وطعام الإثنين يكفى الأربعة وطعام الأربعة يكفى الثمانية
"The food of one person is enough for two, the food of two is enough for four, and the food of four is enough for eight."
Muslim: 2059; Tirmidhi: 1820; Ibn Mājah: 3254; al-Bazzār in Kashf al-Astār: 2874
Author: Imran Ayyub Lahori
Eating Together is Recommended
❶ It is narrated:
The Companions (RA) said: "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! We eat but we do not feel full." He ﷺ asked:
تجتمعون على طعامكم أو تتفرقون؟
"Do you eat together or separately?"
They replied: "We eat separately."
He ﷺ said:
واجتمعوا على طعامكم واذكروا اسم الله تعالى يبارك لكم فيه
"Eat together and mention the name of Allah, and your food will be blessed for you."
Hasan li-ghayrih: Sahih al-Targhīb: 2128; Abu Dawood: 3764; Ibn Mājah: 3286; Ibn Ḥibbān: 5224❷ Ibn ʿUmar (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
كلوا جميعا ولا تتفرقوا فإن طعام الواحد يكفى الإثنين وطعام الإثنين يكفى الأربعة
"Eat together and do not separate, for the food of one person is enough for two, and the food of two is enough for four."
Hasan li-ghayrih: al-Silsilah al-Sahihah: 2691; Sahih al-Targhīb: 2132; al-Ṭabarānī in al-Awsat❸ Jābir (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إن أحب الطعام إلى الله ما كثرت عليه الأيدي
"The most beloved food to Allah is that upon which many hands are placed."
Hasan li-ghayrih: Sahih al-Targhīb: 2133; Abu Yaʿlā: 2045; al-Ṭabarānī in al-Awsat❹ Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
طعام الإثنين كافي الثلاثة وطعام الثلاثة كافى الأربعة
"The food of two is enough for three, and the food of three is enough for four."
Bukhari: 5392; Muslim: 2058❺ Jābir (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
طعام الواحد يكفي الإثنين وطعام الإثنين يكفى الأربعة وطعام الأربعة يكفى الثمانية
"The food of one person is enough for two, the food of two is enough for four, and the food of four is enough for eight."
Muslim: 2059; Tirmidhi: 1820; Ibn Mājah: 3254; al-Bazzār in Kashf al-Astār: 2874