36/18. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2032a — Three Fingers
It is recommended to lick one's fingers and wipe the bowl, and to eat a piece of food that is dropped after removing any dirt on it. It is disliked to wipe one's hand before licking it, because of the possibility that the blessing of the food may be in that remaining part. The Sunnah is to eat with three fingers
Prophet Ate and Licked Three Fingers: A Hadith on Eating Manners
Sahih Muslim : 2032a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2032a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ، مَهْدِيٍّ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ ابْنِ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَلْعَقُ أَصَابِعَهُ الثَّلاَثَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ . وَلَمْ يَذْكُرِ ابْنُ حَاتِمٍ الثَّلاَثَ . وَقَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ فِي رِوَايَتِهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ كَعْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ .
Ibn Ka'b b. Malik Narrated from:
Ibn Ka'b b. Malik reported on the authority of his father that he saw Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) licking his three fingers (after having finished the food). Ibn Hatim made no mention of" three". This hadith is also narrated through another chain of transmitters.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2032aIn-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 170USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 23, Hadith 5039
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2032a
This Hadith about licking three fingers after eating is based on what Ka'b b. Malik saw. He reported that he saw Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم licking his three fingers after finishing food. The narration also notes that one transmitter did not mention the word "three," and that the Hadith came through another chain. The main teaching should stay with what is in the text: the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم licked his fingers after food, and in this wording the number three is mentioned. People searching for Prophet ate with three fingers hadith often want this simple eating Sunnah. This report gives a direct observed action rather than a long speech or a separate story.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ka'b b. Malik saw the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم licking his fingers after food.
- This wording mentions three fingers.
- The narration notes a difference in wording among transmitters.
- The Hadith teaches a Prophetic manner at the end of eating.
