70/2. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5376 — Eating Manners in Islam
Mention the Name of Allah on starting to eat, and eat with the right hand.
Eating Manners Hadith: Say Bismillah, Eat with the Right Hand, and Eat Near You
Sahih Bukhari : 5376
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5376
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.
Umar b. Abu Salama Narrated from:
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.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5376In-book reference : Book 70, Hadith 4USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 65, Hadith 288
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5376
This Hadith is one of the clearest narrations about eating manners in Islam. Umar bin Abi Salama was a boy under the care of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, and his hand used to move around the dish while eating. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم corrected him with gentle and simple words: mention the Name of Allah, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is near you. Umar said he continued to follow these instructions afterward. The Hadith about eating with the right hand teaches manners in a way a child could understand. It also shows how the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم taught daily habits with clear words and lasting effect.
What we learn from this hadith
- Mention Allah’s Name before eating.
- Eat with the right hand.
- Eat from the part of the dish nearest to you.
- Children can be taught manners with simple and clear guidance.
