36/18. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2033f — Licking Fingers and the Mouthful
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 Licking Fingers and the Fallen Mouthful
Sahih Muslim : 2033f
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2033f
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُضَيْلٍ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي، صَالِحٍ وَأَبِي سُفْيَانَ عَنْ جَابِرٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي ذِكْرِ اللَّعْقِ . وَعَنْ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَذَكَرَ اللُّقْمَةَ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِهِمَا .
Jabir Narrated from:
Jabir reported from Allah's Messenger. (ﷺ) about mentioning the licking (of fingers) and the (falling of) the mouthful.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2033fIn-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 179USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 23, Hadith 5048
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2033f
This report from Jabir is short and focused. It mentions the licking of fingers and the falling of the mouthful. Since the translation gives only a summary of the report, the explanation should stay close to that. The core topic is Islamic eating etiquette. The hadith about licking fingers after eating is tied here to the hadith about a fallen mouthful. Together, these teachings guide a person to respect food before, during, and after the meal. The message is not about formality. It is about being mindful of what Allah has provided. A small amount of food on the fingers or a mouthful that falls is still treated with care. This helps a person avoid waste and remember that blessing in food may be found where one does not expect it.
What we learn from this hadith
- The narration connects finger-licking with care for a fallen mouthful.
- Food remains should not be ignored without thought.
- The report teaches simple, practical manners around eating.
- The wording is brief, so its meaning should be kept within the mentioned actions.
