Aslam

believers, don't eat the properties of one another unjustly — 2 :
188. The root of religion is lawful food which is the basis of all religious action (2) The hand shall be washed before eating. The Prophet said : Wash before eating prevents poverty and wash after eating prevents frivolous thoughts." Dirts and germs that keep attached in hands as a result of manual labour can be removed by wash. So wash before eating is necessary as ablution before prayer is necessary. (3) Food shall be placed on the ground as it is the way of the Prophet. Whenever any food was taken to the Prophet, he kept it on the ground as it is the sign of humility. The Prophet used not to take food in any plate except in a big dish with others.. Four things were innovated after the Prophet — (a) to eat on tables, (b) to sift food-stuffs by sieve, (c) to use soaps and (d) to eat to one's heart's content . These things, though not unlawful, are not good for an humble man. (4) One should take food sitting straight. The Prophet said: I don't leaning as I am a mere slave and I eat as a slave eats and I sit as a slave sits". To eat leaning is bad for stomach. (5) One shall make niyyat before eating : I eat to gain strength in worship. He will take promise to eat little and not much as full belly prevents worship. The more the intention is pure for religion, the less is the greed for food. The Prophet said : Such quantity of food is sufficient for a man which can keep his backbone erect. If he is unable to do it then one part of the belly is for food, one part of for drink and one part for breathing." If the niyyat or intention is true, one should not extend his hand towards food if he is not hungry. (6) Be satisfied with the food served and don't be greedy for varieties of curries. Food is honoured only when one does not wait for curry. The Prophet said : When the time of night meal and the time of night prayer come together, first take meal. (7) .
The more are the people to partake food, the better. The Prophet said: Eat all together, as there is blessings in it. The Prophet used not to eat single. He said : The food in which many hand participate is best.

(b) RULES AT THE TIME OF EATING: Being eating reciting 'Bismillah'-in the name of God and end it reciting 'Alhamdollah'-all praise is due to God. Eat with the right hand and begin and end it with salt. Take little morsels and chew each morsel well. Don't extend your hand to a morsel till you swallow the previous one. Don't speak of the defects of cooking. The Prophet never did it. When he liked a food, he ate ; and when he

Vol-II The Book of Wordly Usages 9