Eating from the side of the plate nearest you is a sunnah of table etiquette.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) ate from the side of the dish nearest him; he did not eat from the middle or from in front of another. This behavior reflects both respect for the table and consideration for those beside you. A small attention reveals a great courtesy.
What does the hadith say?
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ أَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّهُ، سَمِعَ وَهْبَ بْنَ كَيْسَانَ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عُمَرَ بْنَ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، يَقُولُ كُنْتُ غُلاَمًا فِي حَجْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَكَانَتْ يَدِي تَطِيشُ فِي الصَّحْفَةِ فَقَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا غُلاَمُ سَمِّ اللَّهَ، وَكُلْ بِيَمِينِكَ وَكُلْ مِمَّا يَلِيكَ ". فَمَا زَالَتْ تِلْكَ طِعْمَتِي بَعْدُ.
Narrated `Umar bin Abi Salama:I was a boy under the care of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and my hand used to go around the dish while I was eating. So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to me, 'O boy! Mention the Name of Allah and eat with your right hand, and eat of the dish what is nearer to you." Since then I have applied those instructions when eating
Text: Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith no. 5376. Grade: sahih (hadiths in al-Bukhari and Muslim are accepted as sahih).
What is the hadith source of this sunnah?
This sunnah rests on the following hadith. The reference gives the collection, chapter and number where the hadith appears.
- al-Bukhari, Book of Food, 2 (hadith no. 5376)
How this page was prepared: sources and verification method.
More sunnahs in Eating & Drinking
As a table with references: Eating & Drinking sunnahs.
- Beginning with Bismillah: Beginning every meal with Bismillah comes first among the sunnahs.
- Eating with the Right Hand: Using the right hand while eating and drinking is a sunnah.
- Drinking While Seated: Drinking water and other drinks while seated is a sunnah of the Prophet.
- Eating in Moderation: Leaving a third of the stomach for food and a third for water is part of the sunnah.
- Praising Allah After Eating: Praising Allah after eating or drinking is gratitude for His blessings.
- Sharing the Meal: Sitting together at the table and sharing increases the blessing.
- Never Criticising Food: Not criticising food is a mark of respect for the blessing of Allah.
- Washing the Hands: Washing the hands after eating is the sunnah of cleanliness at the table.
- Eating Seated on the Floor: Eating seated on the floor, and not eating or drinking standing, is humility reflected in the sunnah.
- Eating the Fallen Morsel: Cleaning and eating a morsel that has fallen is refusing to belittle a blessing.