36/18. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2033e — The Fallen Morsel
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
Hadith About a Fallen Morsel and the Sunnah of Eating
Sahih Muslim : 2033e
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2033e
وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ أَبِي مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ " إِذَا سَقَطَتْ لُقْمَةُ أَحَدِكُمْ " . إِلَى آخِرِ الْحَدِيثِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ أَوَّلَ الْحَدِيثِ " إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَحْضُرُ أَحَدَكُمْ " .
A'mash Narrated from:
This hadith is reported on the authority of A'mash with the same chain of transmitters but with a slight variation of words but no mention is made of the first part of the hadith, i. e. the Satan is present with any one of you.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2033eIn-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 178USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 23, Hadith 5047
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2033e
This narration reports the same meaning through the chain of A'mash, with a slight change in wording. It begins from the instruction: when a morsel of one of you falls. The translation notes that this version does not mention the first part about Satan being present. This is important because the text itself is focused on the fallen morsel and what follows. The hadith about dropped food teaches that a person should not treat food carelessly. If the mouthful falls, the earlier wording in this set explains that dirt is removed and the food is eaten. The topic is food etiquette, especially respect for food and care after a small accident at the meal. It also connects with the Sunnah of licking fingers after eating and looking for barakah in food without waste.
What we learn from this hadith
- The narration preserves the eating instruction even when the opening wording is not mentioned.
- A fallen morsel is not treated as worthless if it can be cleaned.
- The report shows careful transmission of wording differences.
- Food etiquette includes small actions at the table.
