Prophet's Food and Drink

‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) tells us what the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used his right hand for and what he used his left hand for. She says that he used his left hand for handling repulsive things, such as cleansing his private parts after defecation or urination, whether with water or with a solid substance, sniffing water into the nose, blowing it out, and the like. For everything else, he used his right hand in order to honor it, since the right side is preferred to the left side. This Hadīth is among the proofs of preferring the use of the right hand in doing honorable things. ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said that he used his right hand for purification, meaning that he would start with the right side in ablution or bathing by washing the right hand before the left and the right foot before the left. As to the ears, they are considered one organ included in the head, so they were wiped at the same time (the right ear with the right hand and the left ear with the left hand). If someone can only use one hand, then he starts with wiping the right ear. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) also used his right hand to eat and drink. He used his left hand to cleanse himself after answering the call of nature and handling other filth such as spittle, nasal mucus, and lice. The Hadīth reported by Hafsah confirms the Hadīth of ‘Ā’ishah in recommending the use of the right hand in doing what is honored and the left hand in handling what is considered filthy and repulsive, such as performing Istinjā’ (cleaning with water) and Istijmār (cleaning with a solid substance),and the like.

رياض الصالحين من كلام سيد المرسلين، أبو زكريا محيي الدين النووي، تحقيق ماهر الفحل، دار ابن كثير، دمشق، بيروت، الطبعة: الأولى، 1428هـ، 2007م. سنن أبي داود، سليمان بن الأشعث أبوداود، المحقق: شعَيب الأرنؤوط، محَمَّد كامِل قره بلل، الناشر: دار الرسالة العالمية. صحيح أبي داود، محمد ناصر الدين الألباني، الناشر: مؤسسة غراس للنشر والتوزيع، الكويت، الطبعة: الأولى، 1423هـ، 2002م. دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين، محمد علي بن البكري بن علان، اعتنى بها: خليل مأمون شيحا، دار المعرفة، بيروت، الطبعة: الرابعة، 1425هـ. بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، سليم بن عيد الهلالي، دار ابن الجوزي، الدمام، الطبعة: الأولى، 1415هـ. نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، مجموعة من الباحثين، مؤسسة الرسالة، بيروت، الطبعة: الرابعة عشر،1407هـ، 1987م. شرح رياض الصالحين، محمد بن صالح العثيمين، دار الوطن، الرياض، الطبعة: 1426هـ. مسند الإمام أحمد بن حنبل، أحمد بن حنبل أبو عبدالله الشيباني، تحقيق: شعيب الأرنؤوط و عادل مرشد، وآخرون، تحت إشراف: عبد الله بن عبد المحسن التركي، مؤسسة الرسالة، الطبعة: الأولى،1421هـ، 2001م.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was brought milk mixed with water. On his right side there was a Bedouin and on his left side there was Abu Bakr. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) drank from the milk then gave it to the Bedouin, who took it and drank. Although Abu Bakr has more merit than the Bedouin, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) gave the Bedouin preference over him because he was on his right, then he said: "The one on the right then again the one on the right," meaning, start with the one on your right side then again the one on his right side and so on.

صحيح البخاري، دار ابن كثير، اليمامة، بيروت، الطبعة الثالثة، 1407ه. صحيح مسلم, ترقيم محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي, دار إحياء التراث العربي, بيروت. تطريز رياض الصالحين، لفيصل بن عبد العزيز المبارك النجدي, تحقيق: عبد العزيز آل حمد, دار العاصمة, الطبعة الأولى، 1423هـ. بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي، ط1، دار ابن الجوزي، الدمام، 1415ه. شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين, دار مدار الوطن للنشر، الرياض, الطبعة، 1426هـ. رياض الصالحين، للنووي، تحقيق: ماهر الفحل، دار ابن كثير - بيروت، الطبعة الأولى، 1428ه - 2007م.

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to breathe three times in the course of a drink. He would drink one time and take the container away from his mouth. He would then drink for a second and take it away, and he would do the same for a third time. He did not breathe into the container.

رياض الصالحين، للنووي، ط1، تحقيق: ماهر ياسين الفحل، دار ابن كثير، دمشق، بيروت، 1428هـ. رياض الصالحين، ط4، تحقيق: عصام هادي، وزارة الأوقاف والشؤون الإسلامية القطرية، دار الريان، بيروت، 1428هـ. شرح رياض الصالحين، للشيخ ابن عثيمين، دار الوطن للنشر، الرياض، 1426هـ. صحيح مسلم، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار إحياء التراث العربي، بيروت. نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين، ط14، مؤسسة الرسالة، 1407هـ.

Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) entered the house of a man of the Ansār. It is said that he was Abu al-Haytham ibn At-Tayyihān al-Ansāri. The Prophet was accompanied by his Companion Abu Bakr. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) asked the Ansāri man if he had any water that had remained overnight in a water skin, and this was in summer. The wisdom behind that is that the water which remains overnight is cool. If he did not have such water, they would drink water directly with their mouths from a water source, without using a cup or their hand.

رياض الصالحين، للنووي، نشر: دار ابن كثير للطباعة والنشر والتوزيع، دمشق - بيروت، تحقيق: ماهر ياسين الفحل، الطبعة الأولى، 1428هـ - 2007م. دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين، لابن علان، نشر دار الكتاب العربي، بدون تاريخ. نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، نشر: مؤسسة الرسالة، الطبعة: الرابعة عشر، 1407هـ - 1987م. بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، للهلالي، نشر: دار ابن الجوزي، الطبعة الأولى، 1418هـ. صحيح البخاري، نشر: دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم ترقيم محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، الطبعة الأولى، 1422هـ.

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) eating some dates while sitting with his buttocks on the ground and his knees bent upwards. He sat that way so as not to eat much, because in this position one is not sitting comfortably so he does not eat much.

رياض الصالحين، للنووي، نشر: دار ابن كثير للطباعة والنشر والتوزيع، دمشق – بيروت، تحقيق: ماهر ياسين الفحل، الطبعة الأولى، 1428هـ - 2007م. نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، نشر: مؤسسة الرسالة، الطبعة الرابعة عشر، 1407ه - 1987م. شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين، نشر: دار الوطن للنشر، الرياض، الطبعة، 1426ه. صحيح مسلم, ترقيم محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي, دار إحياء التراث العربي, بيروت. بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي, دار ابن الجوزي، الطبعة الأولى، 1418ه.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) as well as his wives and dependents, used to go to sleep for several nights in a row without eating because they would not find any food for supper. Most of their bread was from barley, which was cheaper than wheat and other grains.

سنن الترمذي, تأليف: محمد بن عيسى الترمذي, تحقيق وتعليق: أحمد محمد شاكر ومحمد فؤاد عبد الباقي وإبراهيم عطوة عوض، شركة مكتبة ومطبعة مصطفى البابي الحلبي، مصر الطبعة: الثانية، 1395هـ - 1975م. سنن ابن ماجه: لابن ماجه أبو عبد الله محمد بن يزيد القزويني، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار إحياء الكتب العربية، فيصل عيسى البابي الحلبي. مسند الإمام أحمد بن حنبل المحقق: شعيب الأرنؤوط - عادل مرشد، وآخرون إشراف: د عبد الله بن عبد المحسن التركي مؤسسة الرسالة الطبعة: الأولى، 1421 هـ - 2001 م. مختصر الشمائل المحمدية, تأليف: محمد بن عيسى الترمذي, الناشر: المكتبة الإسلامية, تحقيق: محمد ناصر الدين الألباني. بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين, تأليف: سليم بن عيد الهلالي, دار ابن الجوزي، الطبعة الأولى 1418هـ. دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين, تأليف: محمد علي بن محمد البكري الصديقي, دار الكتاب العربي-بيروت، بدون تاريخ.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) bought barley to serve as food from a Jew, and pawned his coat of mail that he needed for Jihad with him. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to wear that armor in war to give himself extra protection from the enemy's weapons.

صحيح البخاري -للإمام أبي عبد الله محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري، عناية محمد زهير الناصر، دار طوق النجاة، الطبعة الأولى، 1422هـ. - صحيح مسلم؛ للإمام مسلم بن الحجاج، حققه ورقمه محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار عالم الكتب-الرياض، الطبعة الأولى، 1417هـ. - الإلمام بشرح عمدة الأحكام للشيخ إسماعيل الأنصاري-مطبعة السعادة-الطبعة الثانية 1392ه. - تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام-عبد الله البسام-تحقيق محمد صبحي حسن حلاق- مكتبة الصحابة- الشارقة- الطبعة العاشرة- 1426ه.

This Hadīth means that one day the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was famished, and Abu Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) realized that from the weakness of his voice. So he told his wife, Umm Sulaym (may Allah be pleased with her) about it and asked if she had some food. She said that they had enough to feed the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). She took out some barley loaves and then took one of her head coverings, wrapped the bread up with it and placed it under Anas's cloak and covered him with the other end of the head covering. When Anas approached the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) he found him sitting among his Companions, so he went over to him and stood there. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "Did Abu Talhah send you?" Anas said: 'Yes.' He was unable to give the food to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) because there were many Companions around him. He also knew that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was not used to eating food alone apart from his Companions. By his answer, Anas meant to invite the Prophet to come alone to the house of Abu Talhah, so he could eat as the family had wished. However, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) told his Companions to come with him. They all set off and Anas said: "I set off ahead of them," and in another narration: "I was sad because many came along with him." He added: "I came to Abu Talhah and informed him. Abu Talhah said: "O Umm Sulaym, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) has arrived with some people, and we do not have enough to feed them." She said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." Umm Sulaym (may Allah be pleased with her) entrusted the matter to Allah and His Messenger, as if she recognized that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) had done that intentionally, so that the honor of multiplying the food could be demonstrated by him. Her response indicates her superior understanding. Abu Talhah went to meet the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and he proceeded with him until they both entered the house. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said (to Umm Sulaym): "Bring what you have." In another narration: "Abu Talhah received him and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, We have nothing but a loaf of bread that Umm Sulaym made.'" And in another narration, Abu Talhah said: "It is only a loaf of bread," whereupon the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah will bless it." And in another narration, Abu Talhah said: "O Messenger of Allah, I sent Anas just to invite you; we do not have enough to feed all those I see," whereupon the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Go in, for indeed Allah will bless whatever you have." When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) entered the home of Abu Talhah, he said: "Bring what you have, Umm Sulaym.'' So she brought the loaf of bread, which the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) asked to be broken into small pieces. Umm Sulaym squeezed some fat out of a leather container onto the food to dress it and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) make a supplication over the food. In another narration: "I brought it and he untied it and said: 'In the Name of Allah. O Allah, make it blessed in abundance.'" Then he said: "Allow ten to enter." He gave them permission, and they ate until they were satiated and then went out. He again said: "Allow ten more," and he gave them permission and they ate until all the people were satiated, and they were seventy or eighty men. [Al-Bukhāri and Muslim] In another narration: "They continued to enter and exit, ten at a time, until no one remained who had not entered and eaten his fill. He then collected the leftovers and it was the same quantity as before they started eating." In another narration: "They ate ten at a time, until eighty people had eaten. Then the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and the hosts ate and they left a surplus." In another narration: "There was enough leftover to feed their neighbors."

بهجة الناظرين، تأليف: سليم بن عيد الهلالي، الناشر: دار ابن الجوزي، سنة النشر: 1418 هـ- 1997م. كنوز رياض الصالحين، تأليف: حمد بن ناصر بن العمار، الناشر: دار كنوز أشبيليا، الطبعة الأولى: 1430 هـ. نزهة المتقين، تأليف: جمعٌ من المشايخ، الناشر: مؤسسة الرسالة، الطبعة الأولى: 1397 هـ الطبعة الرابعة عشر 1407 هـ. صحيح البخاري، تأليف: محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري، تحقيق: محمد زهير الناصر، الناشر: دار طوق النجاة الطبعة: الأولى، 1422ه.ـ صحيح مسلم، تأليف: مسلم بن الحجاج النيسابوري، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت. رياض الصالحين، تأليف: محيي الدين يحيى بن شرف النووي، تحقيق: د. ماهر بن ياسين الفحل، الطبعة: الأولى، 1428 هـ. دليل الفالحين، تأليف: محمد بن علان، الناشر: دار الكتاب العربي، نسخة الكترونية، لا يوجد بها بيانات نشر.