Part 20

<Indeed, a believer eats in one intestine (i.e, is satisfied with little food), and a kdfir eats in seven intestines (eats too much). *

The Prophet (8) strongly prohibited gluttony and indicated that much of what the people eat is not necessary for them — rather, harmful! Al-Miqdam Bin Ma‘d Yakrib () reported that Allah’s Messenger (&#) said:

A eee sy ae CST 6aT el eat cles ye [pd they (paal Ste Len

Recorded by al-Bukhari, Muslim, and others. 2 Recorded by al-Bukhari, Muslim, and others.

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THE BLESSING OF EATING WITH OTHERS

We have seen earlier (Jabir’s hadith p. 109 & Wahshiyy’s hadith p. 121) that eating with other people brings Allah’s blessings. To the samé meaning, ‘Umar (#) reported that Allah’s Messenger (88) said:

When eating in company, the food can suffice more people, Abii Hurayrah (é) reported that Allah’s Messenger (8) said:

<The food of two persons is sufficient for three, and the food of three persons is sufficient for four. *

SITTING HUMBLY AND EATING FROM AROUND THE SIDES

Arrogance is a sign of ingratitude toward Allah’s favors. When eating,

1 Recorded by at-Tirmitht, Ahmad, and others. Verified to be authentic by al-Albant (as-Sahthah no. 2265).

2. Recorded by Ibn Majah. Verified to be hasan by al-Albani (Sahih ul-Jami’ no. 4500 & as-Sahihah no. 1686).

3 Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Quest for Love & Mercy 125 The Walimah

one is not supposed to recline or sit in a haughty manner; rather, one should sit humbly and eat with consideration,

‘Abdullah Bin Busr (<8) reported that the Prophet (@$) had a large platter called al-Gharra (the white one). It was so large that four men were needed to carry it. One day, a goat was given as gift to the Prophet (8%) — and the food was then scarce. He told his family:

GSAIl 1S I Ly bly SLAM oan Lybcbln

In the early morning, after the people had prayed the duhaé (midmorning) voluntary prayers, al-Gharra’ was brought full of tharid ', The people sat around it, and when they crowded, the Prophet (2) kneeled (with his knees and toes touching the ground). A Bedouin said, “What kind of sitting is this?” The Prophet (&$) replied:

blessed for yous ”

In some of the reports of this hadith, the Prophet (8%) added:

1 A dish made from bread and meat broth, with or without meat. 2 Recorded by Abi Dawid, Ibn Majah, and others. Verified to be authentic by alAlbani (Irwa’l-Ghalil no. 1966, 1981 and as-Sahihah no. 393).

‘asl pSiche Gaekit) cake dat (pd ga, ' 11,15 {id ( Aghe ADI pel “Sh pla 2S > cpaals 23 Take and eat. By the One in Whose hand is Muhammad’s soul, the lands of the Persians and the Romans will be opened up for you, until the food

will be so plentiful that Allah’s name will not be uttered over ito '

This hadith indicates that Allah sends down blessings onto the center of a platter or tray from which a number of people are eating. If they eat from the sides and leave the center, the blessings will continue to flow from the center to all the sides.

To the same meaning, Ibn “Abbas (i) reported that Allah’s Messenger (i) said:

adaey ge LIST, SL ge [SS pla Lang 3545 pl

Nowadays, we see that many Muslims allow large quantities of food to go to waste, especially during walimahs and other social functions — at the time when many other Muslims suffer from hunger and famines. This is contrary to the teachings of the Sunnah. The Prophet (&%) was keen to retrieve even the small amount of food that stuck to his hand or plate.

Ka‘b Bin Malik (4) reported that Allah’s Messenger (&) used to eat with three fingers *. After finishing, he (@) would not wash his

1 Recorded by Abii Bakr ash-Shafit (in al-Faw@ id), al-Bayhaqi, and others. Verified to be authentic by al-Albani (as-Sahihah no. 393).

2 Recorded by Aba Dawid, at-Tirmithi, and others. Verified to be authentic by alAlbant (/rwa’ ul-Ghalil no. 1980/1).

3 Note that there is nothing wrong in eating with a spoon or fork. However, it is more rewarding to follow the Prophet’s (&) way of eating with three fingers. This applies

Quest for Love & Mercy 127 The Walimah

fingers until had licked them. 3 Jabir (s) reported that the Prophet (&) ordered his followers to lick their fingers and plates (after having eaten), and he (&) said:

(AS I Saleh 6h 3 bays ¥ Slo

<You do not know which part of your food has the blessings. *

Even if some food falls from one’s hand, he should not be reluctant to pick it up, clean it, and eat it! Jabir (4) reported that Allah’s Messenger (i) said:

PRAISING ALLAH AND SUPPLICATING TO HIM AFTER EATING

After eating, one should express his gratitude to the One Who granted him the food by praising Him. Anas (4) reported that Allah’s

particularly to food items that come in big chunks, such as bread or dates. 1 Recorded by Muslim, Abt: Dawid, and others. 2 Recorded by Muslim and others. 3 Recorded by Muslim.

Indeed, Allah is pleased with a servant (of His) who eats some food and praises Him for it, or drinks a drink and praises Him for it> '

Ibn ‘Abbas (ts) reported that Allah’s Messenger (8) said: [po boably cad Wl oll”: bials Laleb “il deabl oon Asay cad LU sls ogldl” sled Leg) il tlie cyang “ Aie

ec Ly pall fad Fgh aed GUS ha He whom Allah feeds food should say, “Allahumma barik land fihi wa-rzugna khayran minh — O Allah, bless it for us and provide us with a better food.” And he whom Allah gives milk to drink should say, “Allahumma barik land fihi wa-zidnd minh — oO Allah, bless it for us and give us more of it,’ because

no food or drink is sufficient (in nutrition) except milk. ?

Abi Umamah () reported that when the Prophet (@) finished eating he would say:

pb ai Ue Lb gS ae ab at <Al-hamdu lillahi, hamdan kathiran tayyiban

1 Recorded by Muslim and others. | 2. Recorded by Ahmad, Abii Dawid, and others. Verified to be hasan by al-Albani (Sahih ul-Jami‘ no. 6045 & as-Sahihah no. 2320).

Quest for Love & Mercy 129 The Walimah

mubGrakan fihi, ghayra mukdfain, wa-la muwadda‘in, wa-la mustaghnan ‘anhu rabband — All praise is due to Allah — a praise that is plentiful, pure, and full of blessings. (Your sustenance) cannot be equally repaid, we consistently need it, and we cannot live without it, O our Lord! !

Muth Bin Anas al-Juhant (4) reported that Allah’s Messenger (2) said:

plabll Lia oebi sil d adl” JU gi Lb Isl gon

<Allahumma at‘amta wa-asqayta, wa-aghnayta waaqnayta, wa-hadayta wa-ahyayta, falaka ’l-hamdu ‘ala ma a‘tayta — O Allah, You have fed (me), given (me) drink, sufficed (me) from needing others, endowed (me) with everything, guided (me), and given (me) life; so to You is all praise for all that

1 Recorded by al-Bukhari and others. 2 Recorded by Ibn Majah, Aba Dawid, and others. Verified to be hasan by al-Albant (Sahih ul-Jami' no, 6086 & Irwa’ ul-Ghalil no. 1989),

You have granted. ' SUPPLICATING FOR THE Hosts

In addition to praising Allah, one should show gratitude to the people who fed him. This is best done by supplicating for them.

Al-Miqdad Bin al-Aswad () reported that Allah’s Messenger (8) would supplicate for those who fed him or gave him something to

(peas eet) Ely tS Lad pal Yale palo <Allahumma barik lahum fima razaqtahum, wa-ghfir lahum, wa-rhamhum — O Allah! Bless for them that which You provided them, forgive them, and have mercy upon them. *