My dear fasting brother and sister, perhaps you and your family at this moment, moments before the Athaan (call to prayer) of Maghrib (sunset), are getting ready to have the Iftaar (fast-breaking) meal after a long day of fasting that has exhausted you and you are eagerly waiting for the sun to set. You must be yearning for a gulp of water to quench your thirst, and some dates to pacify your hunger; and your family, children and relatives around you are not in a state better than yours!

First of all, we supplicate that Allah blesses your meal.

Second, we ask your permission to allow us to pause with you for a few moments in order to get acquainted with the food etiquettes our pure Sharee‘ah urges us to realize, so that you would remind yourself and your family around you of them.

Abiding by these etiquettes brings about blessings, edifies the disposition, teaches humbleness, realizes gratitude to Allah, averts Satan, and develops in the heart love for the Creator - the Almighty. Some of these etiquettes are to be observed before, some during and some after eating. These include:

First: etiquettes to be observed before eating:

1- Good intention: one should bring in mind a good intention regarding his food, such as to intend by that food to become strong so that he may obey Allah and sustain life and health, by which righteous deeds could be done regularly. Thus, eating becomes an act of worship for which one receives a reward. The Messenger of Allah said: "Indeed, the (rewards of the) deeds depend upon (their) intentions." [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

2- Supplication is recommended for the fasting person before Iftaar. The Messenger of Allah said: "The fasting person has a supplication at the time of his Iftaar which never fails to be answered." [Ibn Maajah] [Al-Albaani: Dha‘eef (Weak)]

3- Not to be extravagant, in compliance with the command of Allah The Almighty mentioned in the verse (which means): {Eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.} [Quran 7:31]

Second: etiquettes to be observed while eating:

1- To gather people and multiply the hands over the food, in response to the following Hadeeth: "Gather over your food and mention the name of Allah upon it so that you would be blessed in it." [Abu Daawood & Ibn Maajah] [Al-Albaani: Hasan (Sound)]

2- To wait for the very hot food to become cooler. It is narrated on the authority of Asmaa’ Bint Abi Bakr, may Allah be pleased with her, that whenever she prepared a meal of Thareed (a dish of bread mixed with broth and meat), she covered it for some time until it was no longer streaming. She, may Allah be pleased with her, said that she heard the Messenger of Allah having said in this respect: "This is more suitable to bring about blessings." [Ahmad]

3- Not to criticize food. Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "The Messenger of Allah never criticized food: if he liked it, he would eat of it, otherwise, he would simply leave it." [Al-Bukhari]

4- To supplicate to Allah at the time of Iftaar. It is reported in the Sunnah that the fasting person is recommended to say: “Thahaba ath-thama’ wab-tallat al-‘urooq wa thabuta al-’ajr – in shaa' Allah. (The thirst is quenched, the veins are moist, and the reward is assured – if Allah wills).” [Abu Daawood] [Al-Albaani: Hasan (Sound)]

5- To mention the name of Allah at the beginning of eating, and this is one of the greatest and the most important etiquettes of eating. In reference to this it is narrated that the Messenger of Allah once said to a boy (Ibn 'Abbaas, , may Allah be pleased with him): "O boy, mention the name of Allah, eat with your right (hand), and eat from the spot of the dish that is nearer to you." [Al-Bukhari & Muslim] Whoever forgets to mention the name of Allah at the beginning of eating and then remembers it while eating should say: "Bismillaahi aw-walahu wa aakhiruhu (In the name of Allah at its (the food's) beginning and at its end)."

6- To eat with the right hand, and this is obligatory due to the statement of the Messenger of Allah : "When anyone of you eats, let him eat with his right (hand)." [Muslim]

7- To eat with three fingers: the thumb, the index finger, and the middle finger. The Messenger of Allah would eat with these three fingers and lick his hand afterwards before wiping it. [Muslim]

To be continued …

The Fasting Person and Etiquettes of Eating-II