36/13. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2017a — Mention Allah Before Eating
The etiquette of eating and drinking, and rulings thereon
Bismillah Before Eating Hadith: Mention Allah's Name on Food
Sahih Muslim : 2017a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2017a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ خَيْثَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي حُذَيْفَةَ، عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ، قَالَ كُنَّا إِذَا حَضَرْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم طَعَامًا لَمْ نَضَعْ أَيْدِيَنَا حَتَّى يَبْدَأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيَضَعَ يَدَهُ وَإِنَّا حَضَرْنَا مَعَهُ مَرَّةً طَعَامًا فَجَاءَتْ جَارِيَةٌ كَأَنَّهَا تُدْفَعُ فَذَهَبَتْ لِتَضَعَ يَدَهَا فِي الطَّعَامِ فَأَخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِيَدِهَا ثُمَّ جَاءَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ كَأَنَّمَا يُدْفَعُ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَسْتَحِلُّ الطَّعَامَ أَنْ لاَ يُذْكَرَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنَّهُ جَاءَ بِهَذِهِ الْجَارِيَةِ لِيَسْتَحِلَّ بِهَا فَأَخَذْتُ بِيَدِهَا فَجَاءَ بِهَذَا الأَعْرَابِيِّ لِيَسْتَحِلَّ بِهِ فَأَخَذْتُ بِيَدِهِ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنَّ يَدَهُ فِي يَدِي مَعَ يَدِهَا " .
Hudhaifa Narrated from:
When we attended a dinner along with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) we did not lay our hands on the food until Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had laid his hand and commenced eating (the food). Once we went with him to a dinner when a girl came rushingly as it someone had been pursuing her. She was about to lay her hand on the food, when Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) caught her hand.Then a desert Arab came there (rushingly) as if someone had been pursuing him. He (the Holy Prophet) caught his hand; and then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Satan considers that food lawful on which Allah's name is not mentioned. He had brought this girl so that the food might be made lawful for him and I caught her hand. And he had brought a desert Arab so that (the food) might be lawful for him. So I caught his hand. By Him, in Whose hand is my life, it was (Satan's) hand that was in my hand along with her hand.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2017aIn-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 133USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 23, Hadith 5004
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2017a
This Hadith about saying Bismillah before eating teaches a clear food etiquette. Hudhaifa reported that when they ate with the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم), they did not put their hands in the food until he had begun. Once, a girl came quickly and was about to put her hand in the food, but the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) caught her hand. Then a desert Arab came in the same way, and he caught his hand too. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) explained that Satan considers food lawful when Allah's name is not mentioned over it. The Hadith teaches two main manners: wait in a respectful gathering and mention Allah's name before eating. Food should begin with remembrance, not haste.
What we learn from this hadith
- Allah's name should be mentioned over food before eating.
- The companions waited until the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) began eating.
- Rushing to eat without proper remembrance is corrected in this narration.
