Sunnahs in Eating & Drinking include: Beginning with Bismillah, Eating with the Right Hand, Drinking While Seated. The table below lists each sunnah with a short description and the reference of the hadith it rests on. Sunnahs without a basis in authentic sources are not included.
Eating & Drinking sunnahs and hadith references
| Sunnah | Description | Hadith reference |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning with Bismillah | Beginning every meal with Bismillah comes first among the sunnahs. | at-Tirmidhi, Book of Food, 47 (hadith no. 1858) |
| Eating with the Right Hand | Using the right hand while eating and drinking is a sunnah. | Muslim, Book of Drinks, 105 (hadith no. 5265) Muslim, Book of Drinks, 131 (hadith no. 5297) Muslim, Book of Drinks, 136 (hadith no. 5306) |
| Drinking While Seated | Drinking water and other drinks while seated is a sunnah of the Prophet. | Muslim, Book of Drinks, 113 (hadith no. 5275); at-Tirmidhi, Book of Drinks, 11 (hadith no. 1879) at-Tirmidhi, Book of Drinks, 13 (hadith no. 1885) al-Bukhari, Book of Ablution, 19 (hadith no. 154) |
| Eating in Moderation | Leaving a third of the stomach for food and a third for water is part of the sunnah. | at-Tirmidhi, Book of Asceticism, 47 (hadith no. 2380) |
| Praising Allah After Eating | Praising Allah after eating or drinking is gratitude for His blessings. | Muslim, Book of Remembrance and Supplication, 89 (hadith no. 6932) |
| Sharing the Meal | Sitting together at the table and sharing increases the blessing. | Abu Dawud, Book of Food, 14 (hadith no. 3764) Muslim, Book of Drinks, 180 (hadith no. 5370) Muslim, Book of Drinks, 136 (hadith no. 5306) |
| Never Criticising Food | Not criticising food is a mark of respect for the blessing of Allah. | al-Bukhari, Book of Food, 21 (hadith no. 5409); Muslim, Book of Drinks, 188 (hadith no. 5383) |
| Washing the Hands | Washing the hands after eating is the sunnah of cleanliness at the table. | Abu Dawud, Book of Food, 53 (hadith no. 3852) al-Bukhari, Book of Ablution, 52 (hadith no. 211) |
| Eating from What Is in Front of You | Eating from the side of the plate nearest you is a sunnah of table etiquette. | al-Bukhari, Book of Food, 2 (hadith no. 5376) |
| Eating Seated on the Floor | Eating seated on the floor, and not eating or drinking standing, is humility reflected in the sunnah. | Abu Dawud, Book of Food, 17 (hadith no. 3773) Muslim, Book of Drinks, 113 (hadith no. 5275); at-Tirmidhi, Book of Drinks, 11 (hadith no. 1879) |
| Eating the Fallen Morsel | Cleaning and eating a morsel that has fallen is refusing to belittle a blessing. | Muslim, Book of Drinks, 136 (hadith no. 5306) |
Other categories
- Greetings sunnahs
- Cleanliness sunnahs
- Sleep Etiquette sunnahs
- Clothing sunnahs
- Speech Etiquette sunnahs
- Social Life sunnahs
- Prayer & Worship sunnahs
- Family & Visiting sunnahs
- Everyday Courtesy sunnahs
The Sunnah & Hadith app sends this and other sunnahs as short reminders spread across your day. Free for iPhone, no ads: download on the App Store.