25/10. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1801 — Blessing in Food and Finger Licking
What Has Been Related About Licking The Fingers (After The Meal)
Hadith About Licking Fingers After Eating
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1801
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1801
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ أَبِي الشَّوَارِبِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ الْمُخْتَارِ، عَنْ سُهَيْلِ بْنِ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِذَا أَكَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَلْعَقْ أَصَابِعَهُ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَدْرِي فِي أَيَّتِهِنَّ الْبَرَكَةُ " . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ . وَكَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ وَأَنَسٍ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ مِنْ حَدِيثِ سُهَيْلٍ . وَسَأَلْتُ مُحَمَّدًا عَنْ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ فَقَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثُ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ مِنَ الْمُخْتَلِفِ لاَ يُعْرَفُ إِلاَّ مِنْ حَدِيثِهِ .
Narrated Abu Hurairah: That Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Said: "When One Of You Eats, Then Let Him Lick His Fingers, For Indeed He Does Not Know In Which Of Them Is The Blessing." He Said: There Are Narrations On This Topic From Jabir, Ka'B Bin Malik, And Anas. [Abu 'Eisa Said:] This Hadith Is Hasan Gharib, We Do Not Know Of It Except From This Route, As A Narration Of Suhail. I Asked Muhammad About This Hadith, So He Said: "This Is Among The Diverse Narrations Of 'Abdul-'Aziz, We Do Not Know Of It Except From His Narration."
[1] The meaning here is not clear, if it is correct. Some earlier publications - like 'Aridat Al-Ahwadhi contain this addition, while others - like Tuhfat Al-Ahwadhi - do not. If it is correct, then " Al-Mukhtalaf " could mean "contradicted" but the statement after that indicates otherwise. In Al-'Ilal Al-Kabir , the author quotes it as follows from Al-Bukhari : "This Hadith of 'Abdul-'Aziz bin Al-Mukhtar, we do not know of it except from his narration." So it appears this is what is correct and Allāh knows best.Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1801In-book reference : Book 25, Hadith 15English translation : Vol. 3, Book 23, Hadith 1801
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1801
This Hadith about licking fingers after eating teaches a simple part of Islamic eating manners. Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said that when a person eats, he should lick his fingers because he does not know in which finger the blessing may be. The focus is not just on finishing food. It is about respecting the food Allah has provided and not treating small remains as worthless. The Hadith connects daily eating with barakah in food. It also teaches care, thankfulness, and attention to simple Sunnah manners at the meal. The narration also mentions that similar reports are found from Jabir, Ka'b bin Malik, and Anas, while Abu 'Eisa graded this route as Hasan Gharib.
What we learn from this hadith
- A Muslim should respect food and avoid wasting even small remains.
- Blessing in food may be in a part that a person does not notice.
- Eating manners in Islam include simple actions done with gratitude.
