Chapter I: Etiquette of Eating
RULES OF EATING AND DRINKING.
All praise is due to God who conducts the whole creation in an orderly manner. Who gives provision according to a measure, Who increase the strength of animals by food and drink and Who nourishes religion and good deeds by good foods and drinks.
The object of the wise is the vision of the Lord in the next world and the only way to gain it is learning and action and there is not other way, but it is not possible to stand constantly on them without a healthy body which is also not possible without food and drink, such food and drink which are absolutely necessary and which are taken according to prescribed rules. For this reason, some learned sages said that food and drink appertain to religion. God said Eat pure food and do good deeds-23 :51 Q. If a man takes food for helping his learning and actions and God-fear, his food and drink are considered as divine service. For that, he should not spend his time uselessly and remain busy like a lower being which roams from field to field in eating and drinking. The modes and the ways of food and drink are the lights of religion. A religious man must stick to these ways and control his passion and greed for food and drink by weighing them in the balance of Shariat. The Holy Prophet said : A man can acquire virtues in all his actions, even in a morsel of food he lifts up his mouth and to the mouth of his wife.
SECTION I
RULES OF EATING ALONE
The rules of eating alone are three kind — (a) rules before eating (b) rules at the time of eating and (c) rules after eating.
(a) RULES BEFORE EATING : There are seven rules before eating. (1) The food must be lawful . God enjoined eating good and lawful food and prohibited bad and unlawful food. There is benefit in the former and harm in the latter. God says: O
8 The Book of Wordly Usages Vol-II