Part 32

“Tf one sleeps with Ghamar (the smell of meat and its sticky grease) on his hand, if he didn't wash it, and if something then afflicts him, he should blame no one save himself.“

In another narration, Abu Hurairah 4 reported that, on one occasion, the Prophet #% ate the shoulder part of a sheep, after which he rinsed his mouth, washed his hands, and then prayed.!] And in yet another narration, Abbaan Ibn ‘Uthmaan reported that ‘Uthmaan Ibn ‘Affaan 4 ate bread and meat, after which he rinsed his mouth, washed his hands, and wiped them

"1 Related by Ahmad (7515), Abu Daawood (3852), At-Tirmidhee (1860), Ibn Maajah (3297), and Ad-Daarimee (2063). Al-Albaanee ruled that Abu Daawood’s narration of the hadith is authentic.

1 Related by Ahmad (27486) and Ibn Maajah (493). And Al-Albaanee ruled that it is authentic (498).

over his face. He then prayed without performing ablution (i.e., the act of eating did not make it required of him to renew his ablution),“

Related Issue: Some scholars rule that it is recommended to perform ablution (the complete ablution for prayer) before eating if one is in a state of major impurity (which occurs after one has had sexual intercourse, for example). To support this view, they cite a hadith and an Athar (a narration from a Companion 4). As for the hadith, ‘Aaisha % reported that whenever the Messenger of Allah #@ was in a major state of impurity and he wanted to eat or sleep, he would perform the ablution that he would always perform for prayer.?] The Athar they cite is related by Naafai’, who said that whenever Ibn ‘Umar 4 was in a major state of impurity and he wanted to sleep or eat, he would wash his face and his hands until his elbows. He would also pass wet hands over his head, and [only] then would he eat or sleep. Ash-Shaikh Taqee-Ud-Deen Ibn Taymiyyah said, “We know of no one who says that it is recommended to perform ablution before eating, except in the case wherein a man is in a major state of impurity.”

Citing the above-mentioned hadith of ‘Aaisha %, the presentday Muhaddith Al-Albaanee ruled that it is legislated to wash one’s hands before eating, regardless of whether one is in a major state of impurity or not. This ruling is, however, debatable for a number of reasons. First, the hadith explains what the Prophet #8 would do when he wanted to sleep, eat, or drink, while being in a major state of impurity. Second, some narrations of the hadith contain the wording ‘ablution’ while others contain the wording ‘washed his hands,’ which indicates that both actions

" Related by Maalik (53)

"1 Related by Bukhaaree (286), Muslim (305), Ahmad (24193), An-Nassaaee (255), Abu Daawood (224), Ibn Maajah (584), and Ad-Daarimee (757). And the wording mentioned above is taken from Muslim’s narration of the hadith.

5] Related by Maalik (111).

41 Refer to As-Silsilatus-Saheehah (1/674) (390)

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are permissible. In his Haashiyah, As-Sindee said, ‘That the Prophet #¢ would, on certain occasions, wash nothing but his hands proves that it is permissible to do so [without performing the complete ablution]. And he would perform the complete ablution (based on some narrations) to achieve a complete state.” Third, though the Imams and the Mukaddithoon - the likes of Maalik, Ahmad, Ibn Taymiyyah, An-Nisaaee, and others - have related the said hadith, they did not give it the broad meaning that Al-’Allaamah Al-Albaanee did, which proves that they limited the application of the hadith to when a person is in a state of major impurity. So the correct ruling is this: based on the said hadith, only when one is in a major state of impurity is it legislated to perform ablution and wash one’s hands before eating.

5) Mentioning Allah's Name Before Eating Or Drinking And Praising Allah 3¢ Afterwards

It is Sunnah for one to say “Bismillah (in the name of Allah)” before eating or drinking and to praise Allah 3 afterwards. Ibn Al-Qayyim pointed out that applying this Sunnah benefits both the body and soul. And Imam Ahmad said, “If the following four are combined in food, it becomes complete: Allah’s Name is mentioned before it is eaten; Allah is praised after it is eaten; many hands partake of it (i.e, many people share the food); and it is procured by Halal (permissible) means.”

When you mention Allah’s Name before eating, the Shaitaan is prevented from participating in the meal and from getting to the food. Hudhaifah # said, ‘When we would be with the Prophet #2, we would not place our hands [on the food] until the Messenger of Allah #% began, and placed his hand [on the food]. Once, when we were with him at a repast, a young girl came, [racing] as if she was being propelled forward. She moved to put her hand on the food, but the Messenger of Allah #% took her by the hand [and prevented her]. Then a Bedouin came, [racing] as if he was being propelled, but the Prophet # took him by his hand. Then the Messenger of Allah #¢ said,

“Verily, the Shaitaan deems permissible that food over which Allah's Name is not mentioned. And he came with this girl in order to deem it lawful through her (i.e., she did not mention Allah's Name), so I took her by the hand. Then he (Shaitaan) came with this Bedouin in order to deem it lawful through him, so I took him by his hand. And by the One Who has my soul in His Hand, his (the Shaitaan’s) hand was in my hand with her (the young girl's) hand.”

The phrase one pronounces to mention Allah’s name is, “Bismillah (In the Name of Allah). ‘Umar Ibn Salamah 4 said, “T was a young boy in the apartment of the Messenger of Allah #8, and my hand would move around in the plate. And so the Messenger of Allah 2 said to me,

“O young boy, mention Allah’s name, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is nearest to you.’ Since that time, I have continued to eat in that manner.’"?]

Although this hadith suggests that it is sufficient to say, “Bismillah (In the Name of Allah),” when one is about to eat, An-Nawawee, in Al-Adhkaar, said that it is best to say “Bismillahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem (In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful).” Ibn Hajr refuted that view, saying, “As for his claim that it is better [to say, ‘In the Name of

') Related by Muslim (2017), Ahmad (22738), and Abu Daawood (3766).

I Related by Bukhaaree (5376), Muslim (2022), Ahmad (15895), Abu Daawood (3777), Ibn Maajah (3267), Maalik (1738), and Ad-Daarimee (2045). And the wording mentioned above is from Bukhaaree’s narration of the hadith.

Chapter - 9 The Manners Of Eating And Drinking 203

Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful’], I have not seen any specific proof that supports it.” Most narrations are worded, “mention Allah’ without the addition of ‘Ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem.” ‘Mention Allah’ only implies that “In the Name of Allah” is sufficient, but At-Tabaraanee’s narration explicitly states that wording. In that narration, ‘Amr Ibn Salamah ¢ reported that the Messenger of Allah #% said,

“O young boy, if you [are about to] eat, then say, ‘Bismillah.’ Also, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is closest (or from what is next) to you."

If one forgets to say Allah’s name before one eats but remembers while he is eating, he should say, “In the name of Allah in its beginning and end.” ‘Aaisha %, the Mother of the Believers, related that the Messenger of Allah 2 said,

“When one of you eats (i.e., before eating), then let him mention the Name of Allah, the Exalted. If he forgets to mention the Name

of Allah, the Exalted, in the beginning of [the meal], then let him say, “In the name of Allah in its beginning and end.”

As for praising Allah 8 after eating or drinking, it is a Sunnah practice of great merit, one that Allah 4€ blessed His slaves with. Anas Ibn Maalik related that the Messenger of Allah #€ said,

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“Allah is indeed pleased with His slave when he eats a meal and

") At-Tabaraanee related it in his Mo'jim Al-Kabeer. Al-Albaanee included it in his As-Silsilatus-Saheehah and said, “This chain is authentic and it fulfills the conditions of the two Shaikhs (ie, Bukhaaree and Muslim) (1/

then praises Him for it, or drinks a drink and then praises Him for it.)

The Prophet # used various phrases on different occasions to praise Allah # after he ate or drank; here are some of those phrases:

a) “Allah be praised with an abundant beautiful praise, a never-ending praise, a praise which we will never bid farewell to and an indispensable praise, He is our Lord.”

b) “All praise is for Allah, Who has sufficed us and quenched us, with a never-ending praise, and [we do not] deny His favors.” Abu Umaamah # said, ‘When the Prophet 2 would finish a meal (elsewhere he said, ““When he would lift up his table”), he #% would say,

‘All praise is to Allah, Who has sufficed us and quenched us, with a never-ending praise, and [we do not] deny His favors.’

And once he # said,

“Allah be praised with an abundant beautiful praise, a never-ending praise, a praise which we will never bid farewell to and an indispensable praise, He is our Lord.””}

c) “All praise is for Allah who fed me this and provided it for me with neither might nor power from myself.” Mu’aadh

{I Related by Muslim (2734), Ahmad (11562), and At-Tirmidhee (1816).

I Related by Bukhaaree (5459), and the wording mentioned above is from his narration of the hadith; Ahmad (21664); At-Tirmidhee (3456); Abu Daawood (3849); Ibn Maajah (3284); Ad-Daarimee (2023); and AlBaghawee, in Sharhus-Sunnah (2828).

Chapter - 9 The Manners Of Eating And Drinking 205

Tbn Anas related from his father 4 that the Messenger of Allah 2% said,

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ih yy ME OT eG Be “Whoever eats food and then says, ‘All praise is to Allah Who fed me this and provided it for me with neither might nor power from myself,’ then his previous sins are forgiven for him.)

d) “All praise is to Allah, Who has fed and given drink; Who has made it easy to swallow and digest; and Who has made a way out for it.” Abu Ayyoob Al-Ansaaree said, ‘When the Messenger of Allah % would eat or drink, he would say, ‘All praise is to Allah, Who has fed and given drink; Who has made it easy to swallow and digest; and Who has made a way out for it”?!