Riyad as-Salihin · Chapter 104

Eating from What is in Front of One

باب الأكل مما يليه ووعظه وتأديبه من يسئ أكله

Here the table manners of the believer are drawn in a few simple strokes, begin with the Name of Allah, eat with the right hand, and take from the part of the dish nearest you rather than reaching across into others' portions. These are small acts, yet together they turn an ordinary meal into something disciplined, grateful, and considerate of the people sharing it.

Watch the contrast between the two hadith. The first is the Prophet (peace be upon him) gently teaching a boy in his care, warm and instructive. The second is a warning to a grown man who refused the right-hand guidance out of pride, showing that arrogance toward clear good guidance can cost a person even the ability he was clinging to.

Hadith 739

'Umar bin Abu Salamah (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:

عن عمر بن أبى سلمة رضى الله عنهما قال‏:‏ كنت غلاماً في حجر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وكانت يدي تطيش في الصحفة، فقال لي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ ‏ "‏ يا غلام سم الله تعالى، وكل بيمينك،وكل مما يليك‏" ‏ .((متفق عليه))

I was a boy under the care of Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and as my hand used to wander around in the dish, he (ﷺ) said to me once, "Mention Allah's Name (i.e., say Bismillah), eat with your right hand, and eat from what is in front of you." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In plain words

As a boy in the Prophet's care, his hand would roam the dish, so he was taught to name Allah, eat with the right hand, and take from what was in front of him. Warm, patient teaching.

Riyad as-Salihin 739 · Book 2, Hadith 13

Hadith 740

Salamah bin Al-Akwa' (May Allah be pleased with him) reported on the authority of his father:

وعن سلمةَ بن الأَكْوَع أنَّ رَجُلاً أَكَلَ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ الله بِشِمَالِهِ ، فَقَالَ : « كُلْ بِيَمِينِكَ » قَالَ : لا أسْتَطِيعُ . قَالَ : « لا اسْتَطَعْتَ » ! مَا مَنَعَهُ إِلا الكِبْرُ ! فَمَا رَفَعَهَا إِلَى فِيهِ . ((رواه مسلم))

A man ate with his left hand in the presence of Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), whereupon he said, "Eat with your right hand." The man said: "I cannot do that." Thereupon he (the Prophet (ﷺ)) said, "May you not be able to do that." It was vanity that prevented him from doing it and he could not raise it (the right hand) up to his mouth afterwards. [Muslim].

In plain words

A man refused the guidance to eat with his right hand out of pride, and afterward could no longer raise that hand to his mouth. A sober warning against arrogance toward plain good advice.

Riyad as-Salihin 740 · Book 2, Hadith 14