Lessons

Character

Eating and drinking as a Muslim

Learn the basics of wholesome food, what to avoid, and mindful daily eating habits.

3 short lessons · about 3 min · every point has its source

1. Choosing wholesome and lawful food

Food is an essential part of our daily lives. Allah calls all people to eat what is lawful and wholesome on the earth, and He warns everyone not to follow the steps of Satan.¹ The Arabic word halal means lawful, while tayyib means pure and wholesome. Allah commanded His messengers to eat good foods and do righteous deeds.² When we seek what is lawful and pure, our daily sustenance becomes connected to our faith.

Mindful choices also protect our relationship with Allah. The Prophet ﷺ taught that Allah is good and accepts only what is good. He spoke of a weary traveler who raises his hands in supplication, yet his food, drink, and clothing come from unlawful sources. Because the man was nourished by what is unlawful, how could his supplication be accepted?³ Choosing lawful food keeps our hearts clear and ready to call upon our Lord.

Wholesome living also includes how we earn our food. The Prophet ﷺ taught that the purest food a person eats is that which they have earned through their own work.⁴ Allah commands believers to eat of what He provides and to be grateful for His favors.⁵ By earning honestly and eating mindfully, we show gratitude every single day.

2. What Muslims avoid in food and drink

It is forbidden to eat dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah.⁶ Animals killed by strangling, a violent blow, falling, or the goring of horns are likewise prohibited.⁷ The Quran specifies that swine is impure.⁸

Intoxicants of every kind are also strictly forbidden. The Prophet ﷺ taught that every intoxicant is khamr, and every intoxicant is forbidden.⁹ If a large amount of any drink causes intoxication, even a handful of it is unlawful.¹⁰ Furthermore, the Quran explains that Satan seeks to cause hatred and animosity through intoxicants and gambling, turning believers away from prayer and the remembrance of Allah.¹¹

Believers may wonder what happens during an extreme crisis. A person who is forced by necessity may eat what is forbidden, provided they do not desire it or exceed the limit, and there is no sin on them. In such desperate circumstances, there is no sin upon them, for Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.⁶

3. Manners at the table

Mealtime is a daily opportunity to bring mindful remembrance into your routine. Allah asks believers to eat from good provisions and give thanks to Him.¹³ These small habits help turn an ordinary everyday act into a source of peace and gratitude.

The Prophet ﷺ gave clear guidance on table manners while sharing food with a young companion. He instructed Umar bin Abi Salama to mention the name of Allah, to eat with his right hand, and to eat from what was nearest to him on the dish.¹⁴

Using the right hand applies to drinks as well as food. The Prophet ﷺ instructed believers to eat with the right hand and drink with the right hand, explaining that Satan eats and drinks with his left hand.¹⁵ The Prophet ﷺ taught to eat from the part of the dish that is nearer to you.¹⁴

If these practices are new to you, take your time and build them slowly into your routine. Practicing each sunnah, or tradition of the Prophet ﷺ, brings gentle blessing and mindfulness to every meal you share.

Sources

1. Quran 2:168 (Al-Baqarah)
   O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy
2. Quran 23:51 (Al-Mu'minun)
   [Allah said], "O messengers, eat from the good foods and work righteousness. Indeed, I, of what you do, am Knowing
3. Jamiʿ at-Tirmidhi 2989
   Narrated Abu Hurairah:that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "O you people! Indeed Allah is Tayyib (good) and he does not accept but what is good. And indeed Allah ordered the believers with what He ordered the Messengers. He (ﷺ) said: 'O you Messengers! Eat of the good things and do righteous deeds. Verily I am well acquainted with what you do (23:51).' And He said: 'O you who believe! Eat from the good things We have provided you (2:172).' He said: "And he mentioned a man: 'Who is undertaking a long journey, whose hair is dishevelled and he is covered with dust. He raises his hands to the heavens and says: "O Lord! O Lord!" Yet his food is from the unlawful, his drink is from the unlawful, his clothing is from the unlawful, and he was nourished by the unlawful. So how can that be accepted?Grading: Ahmad Muhammad Shakir: Hasan; Al-Albani: Hasan; Bashar Awad Maarouf: Hasan; Zubair Ali Zai: Isnaad Hasan Sahih Muslim
4. Sunan an-Nasaʾi 4451
   It was narrated that 'Aishah said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'The best (most pure) food that a man eats is that which he has earned himself, and his child (and his child's wealth) is part of his earningGrading: Abu Ghuddah: Sahih; Al-Albani: Sahih; Zubair Ali Zai: Sahih
5. Quran 16:114 (An-Nahl)
   Then eat of what Allah has provided for you [which is] lawful and good. And be grateful for the favor of Allah, if it is [indeed] Him that you worship
6. Quran 2:173 (Al-Baqarah)
   He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful
7. Quran 5:3 (Al-Ma'idah)
   Prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah, and [those animals] killed by strangling or by a violent blow or by a head-long fall or by the goring of horns, and those from which a wild animal has eaten, except what you [are able to] slaughter [before its death], and those which are sacrificed on stone altars, and [prohibited is] that you seek decision through divining arrows. That is grave disobedience. This day those who disbelieve have despaired of [defeating] your religion; so fear them not, but fear Me. This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion. But whoever is forced by severe hunger with no inclination to sin - then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful
8. Quran 6:145 (Al-An'am)
   Say, "I do not find within that which was revealed to me [anything] forbidden to one who would eat it unless it be a dead animal or blood spilled out or the flesh of swine - for indeed, it is impure - or it be [that slaughtered in] disobedience, dedicated to other than Allah. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], then indeed, your Lord is Forgiving and Merciful
9. Sahih Muslim 2003b Read it in full
   Ibn 'Umar, through another chain of transmitters; reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) having said this: Every intoxicant is Khamr and every intoxicant is forbidden
10. Sunan Abi Dawud 3687 Read it in full
    Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: Every intoxicant is forbidden; if a faraq of anything causes intoxication, a handful of it is forbiddenGrading: Al-Albani: Sahih; Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid: Sahih; Zubair Ali Zai: Isnaad Hasan
11. Quran 5:91 (Al-Ma'idah)
    Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist
12. Quran 5:90 (Al-Ma'idah)
    O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful
13. Quran 2:172 (Al-Baqarah)
    O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is [indeed] Him that you worship
14. Sahih al-Bukhari 5376 Read it in full
    Narrated `Umar bin Abi Salama: I was a boy under the care of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and my hand used to go around the dish while I was eating. So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to me, 'O boy! Mention the Name of Allah and eat with your right hand, and eat of the dish what is nearer to you." Since then I have applied those instructions when eating
15. Sahih Muslim 2020a Read it in full
    Ibn 'Umar reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: When any one of you intends to eat (meal), he should eat with his right hand. and when he (intends) to drink he should drink with his right hand, for the Satan eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand

Every point in this lesson rests on a verse of the Quran or a hadith, listed above. Hadith come from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, or from other collections only where every listed scholar graded them sahih or hasan. Found a mistake? Tell us.

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