Buruja
The Book About the Etiquette of Eating

Riyad as-Salihin · Chapter 107

Eating from the Side of the Vessel

باب الأمر بالأكل من جانب القصعة والنهى عن الأكل من وسطها

This short chapter teaches a small habit at the table that carries a large meaning. The Prophet (peace be upon him) tells us that blessing, barakah, settles in the middle of the food, so we begin from the edges and work inward, leaving the centre for last. The point is not a rule about geometry but a posture of the heart: we eat with care and gratitude rather than grabbing greedily at the best part first.

Notice how the second hadith pairs this guidance with the Prophet's own humility at the meal. When asked about the simple way he sat to eat, he answered that Allah made him a gracious servant, not a harsh tyrant. Manners around food and humility of soul belong together.

Hadith 743

Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:

وعن ابن عباس رضى الله عنهما عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏ "‏البركة تنزل وسط الطعام، فكلوا من حافتيه ولا تأكلوا من وسطه‏" ‏‏‏.((رواه أبو داود والترمذي))

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Blessing descends upon food in its middle, so eat from the sides of the vessel and do not eat from its middle." [Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].

In plain words

Blessing settles in the middle of a dish, so eat from the edges and work inward rather than reaching for the center first. Eating with care instead of grabbing the best part.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 743 In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 17

Hadith 744

'Abdullah bin Busr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

وعن عبد الله بن بشر رضى الله عنه قال‏:‏ كان للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قصعة يقال لها‏:‏ الغراء، يحملها أربعة رجال، فلما أضحوا وسجدوا الضحى أتى بتلك القصعة، يعنى وقد ثرد فيها، فالتقوا عليه ، فلما كثروا جثا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏فقال أعرابي ‏:‏ ما هذه الجلسة‏؟‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ إن الله جعلني عبداً كريماً، ولم يجعلني جباراً عنيداً، ثم قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏‏ "‏كلوا من حواليها، ودعوا ذروتها يبارك فيها‏" ‏ .‏((رواه أبو داود))

The Prophet (ﷺ) had a large bowl called Al-Gharra', which would be carried by four men. One day, when the Companions finished their Duha (forenoon optional) prayer, Al-Gharra' was brought full of sopped bread, meat and broth, and they sat down around it. When their number increased, Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sat down on his knees and rested on the soles of his feet. A bedouin said to him: "What sort of sitting is that?" Thereupon Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Verily, Allah has made me a courteous slave not a fierce tyrant." Then he said, "Eat from the sides of the bowl and leave the central part of it so that your food will be blessed." [Abu Dawud].

In plain words

Asked why he sat so simply to eat, he said Allah made him a gracious servant, not a harsh tyrant, then taught eating from the sides so the food would be blessed. Humility and good manners together.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 744 In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 18