Source: Excerpt from "Aḥkām wa Masā’il: Kitāb o Sunnat kī Roshni Main" by Shaykh Mubashshir Ahmad Rabbānī
Is washing hands before eating supported by any authentic ḥadīth?
Yes, washing hands before eating or drinking is indeed established from the practice of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها:
"كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا كان جنباً فأراد أن ينام، توضأ وضوءه للصلاة، وإذا أراد أن يأكل أو يشرب غسل يديه ثم يأكل أو يشرب."
"When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was in a state of janābah and intended to sleep, he would perform ablution like that for prayer. And when he intended to eat or drink, he would wash his hands and then eat or drink."
Sharḥ al-Sunnah 2/34
Imām al-Baghawī رحمه الله comments:
"This ḥadīth is ṣaḥīḥ (authentic)."
Washing hands before meals is a prophetic practice (Sunnah) and should be adopted by every Muslim. It reflects cleanliness, etiquette, and adherence to the blessed lifestyle of the Prophet ﷺ.
❖ Question:
Is washing hands before eating supported by any authentic ḥadīth?
❖ Answer:
Yes, washing hands before eating or drinking is indeed established from the practice of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
❖ Narration of ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها:
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها:
"كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا كان جنباً فأراد أن ينام، توضأ وضوءه للصلاة، وإذا أراد أن يأكل أو يشرب غسل يديه ثم يأكل أو يشرب."
"When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was in a state of janābah and intended to sleep, he would perform ablution like that for prayer. And when he intended to eat or drink, he would wash his hands and then eat or drink."
Sharḥ al-Sunnah 2/34Imām al-Baghawī رحمه الله comments:
"This ḥadīth is ṣaḥīḥ (authentic)."
❖ Conclusion:
Washing hands before meals is a prophetic practice (Sunnah) and should be adopted by every Muslim. It reflects cleanliness, etiquette, and adherence to the blessed lifestyle of the Prophet ﷺ.
