We know that eating with 3 figures is Sunnat of Prophet SAWS. If we use spoons, forks etc for eating, will it be correct or not.
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa
Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked this
question:
Dear
Brother Burhan,
As-Salamu
Alaikum wa Rahmatu Allah wa Barakatu.
I got
some drought and need to ask you for Clarify. As we know that eating with 3
figures is Sunnat of Prophet SAWS. If we use spoons, forks etc for eating, will
it be correct or not. What Islam Says about way of eating in modern Day. Where
we find lot of ways of eating, I mean the food is servered in Buffet; peoples
eat standing and sometime sitting on table. And also they use Spoons and Forks
etc.
What
the Quran and Hadits say about this and what our Olamaa Say on this topic.
Please
Clarify.
May
Allah Give you Better Reward for your kind efford for getting the pleasure of
Allah SWT.
(There may be some grammatical and spelling
errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from
questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in
confidentiality.)
Answer:
Eating with hands or spoon
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask
for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever
He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that
there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that
Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
Your Question: As we
know that eating with 3 figures is Sunnat of Prophet SAWS. If we use spoons,
forks etc for eating, will it be correct or not.
Sahih Muslim Hadith 5049 Narrated by Anas ibn Malik
When Allah's Messenger (saws) ate food he
licked his three fingers, and he (saws) said: ‘When any one of you drops a
mouthful he should remove anything filthy from it and then eat it, and should
not leave it for the Shaytaan.’ He also commanded us that we should wipe the
dish saying: ‘You do not know in what portion of your food the blessing lies.’
Sahih Muslim Hadith 5050 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah
Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘When any one
of you eats food he should lick his fingers, for he does not know in what part
of the food sticking to his fingers the blessing lies.’
Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (saws) would eat almost all
food with his fingers; and it would be considered a Sunnah for the believers to
eat with their fingers. But there is no
narration in the authentic and established Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah
(saws) whereby he specifically prohibited the believers to eat with an
utensil….thus the scholars and jurists in Islam are of the opinion that if one
eats with one’s fingers, it is fine; and if one chooses to eat one’s food with
one of the available utensils made specially for that purpose (like forks, or
spoons, or chop-sticks, etc.) there is absolutely no harm and no sin.
The scholars base their opinion that when the Messenger of
Allah (saws) drank any liquid like water, milk, etc.; he would use an utensil
like a bowl to consume it….thus if one wishes to consume one’s food through an
utensil, there is absolutely no harm.
Your Question: What
Islam Says about way of eating in modern Day. Where we find lot of ways of
eating, I mean the food is servered in Buffet; peoples eat standing and
sometime sitting on table.
To the best of our knowledge, there is absolutely nothing
in the authentic and established Sunnah which declares that all believers must
eat in only a particular manner, neither did the Messenger of Allah (saws) ever
prohibit the believers from eating food from a ‘buffet’ or on a table.
The presentation and types of food prepared are according
to the culture one lives in….thus if one lives in a culture where food is
served on a ‘sufrah’ on the ground, or in ‘buffet’ format, or even on a
table…there is absolutely no harm.
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 769 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar
During the days of the Prophet (saws) we used
to eat while walking.
There is no harm if the believers choose to eat in a
standing or sitting position.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to
Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only
Source of Strength.
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Burhan