The Book on Food

كتاب الأطعمة عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم

Chapter 1: What Has Been Related About What The Prophet (saws) Ate Upon

Narrated Yunus

From Qatadah, that Anas said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) never ate on a table, nor on small plates, not did he eat thin bread." He (Yunus) said: "I asked Qatadah: 'So what did he eat on ?' He said: 'On these leather dining sheets.'"

[Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan Gharib. Muhammad bin Bash-har said: "This Yunus is Yunus Al-Iskaf." And 'Abdul-Warith bin Sa'eed reported similarly from Sa'eed bin Abi 'Arubah, from Qatadah, from Anas [From the Prophet (ﷺ)].

Chapter 2: What Has Been Related About Eating Rabbit

Narrated Hisham b. Zaid

"I heard Anas saying: 'Once we provoked a rabbit at Marr Az-Zahran. So the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) rushed after it, and I caught up to it and captured it. I brought it to Abu Talhah who slaughtered it with Marwah. He sent me with its legs - or its thighs - to the Prophet (ﷺ) so he could eat it.'" He (Hisham) said: "I said: 'He ate it?' He said:'He accepted it.'"

[Abu 'Eisa said:] There are narrations on this topic from Jubair, 'Ammar, Muhammad bin Safwan, and they say: Muhammad bin Saifi.

This Hadith is Hasan Sahih. This is acted upon according to the people of knowledge. They saw no harm in eating rabbit. Some of the people of knowledge disliked eating rabbit, they said that it menstruates.

Chapter 3: What Has Been Related About Eating Mastigure

Narrated Ibn 'Umar

"The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked about eating a mastigure and he said: 'I do not eat it, and I do not prohibit eating it.'"

[He said:] There are narrations on this topic from 'Umar, Abu Sa'eed, Ibn 'Abbas, Thabit bin Wadi'ah, Jabir, and 'Abdur-Rahman bin Hasanah.

[Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan Sahih

The People of knowledge have differed over eating mastigure. Some of the people of knowledge among the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) and others permitted it, while others considered it disliked. It has been related that Ibn 'Abbas said: "Mastigure was eaten on the dining spread of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) only avoided it because it was distasteful to him."

Chapter 4: What Has Been Related About Eating Badger

Narrated Ibn Abi 'Ammar

"I asked Jabir: 'Is badger kind of game animal?' He said: 'Yes.'" He said: "I said: 'Should I eat it?' He said: 'Yes.'" He said: 'I said: 'Did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say that ?' He said: 'Yes.'"

[Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan Sahih.

Some of the people of knowledge followed this. They did not see any harm eating badger. This is the view of Ahmad and Ishaq. A Hadith has been related from the Prophet (ﷺ) indicating disapproval of eating badger but its chain is not strong. Some of the people of knowledge disliked eating badger. This is the view of Ibn Al-Mubarak. Yahya bin Al-Qattan said: "Jarir bin Hazm reported this Hadith from 'Abdullah bin 'Ubaid bin 'Umair, from Ibn Abi 'Ammar, from Jabir, from 'Umar, as his saying. And the narration of Ibn Juraij (a narrator in the chain of this Hadith) is more correct. And Ibn Abi 'Ammar is 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Abdullah bin Abi 'Ammar Al-Makki.

Narrated Khuzaimah bin Jaz'

"I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about eating badger. He said: 'Does anyone eat badger?' So I asked him about eating wolf' He said: 'Does anyone who has any good in him eat wolf?'"

[Abu 'Eisa said:] The chain for this Hadith is not strong. We do not know of it except as a narration of Isma'il bin Muslim from 'Abdul-Karim Abi Umayyah. Some of the people of Hadith have criticized Isma'il and 'Abdul Karim Abi Umayyah. And he is 'Abdul-Karim bin Qais, who is Ibn Abi Al-Mukhariq. While 'Abdul-Karim bin Malik Al-Jazari is trustworthy.

Chapter 5: What Has Been Related About Eating Horse Meat

Narrated Jabir

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) allowed us to eat horse meat, and he forbade us from eating donkey meat."

He said: There is something on this from Asma' bin Abi Bakr. Abu 'Eisa said: This Hadith is Hasan Sahih. This is how it was reported by more than one narrator, from 'Amr bin Dinar from Jabir. Hammad bin Zaid reported it from 'Amr bin Dinar from Muhammad bin 'Ali, from Jabir. The narration of Ibn 'Uyainah (no. 1793) is more correct. He said: I heard Muhammad saying: "Sufyan bin 'Uyainah is better at memorizing than Hammad bin Zaid."

Chapter 6: What Has Been Related About The Meat Of Domesticated Donkey

Narrated 'Abdullah and Al-Hasan, the sons of Muhammad bin 'Ali

Fromt their father, that 'Ali said: "During the time of Khaibar, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibited Mut'ah with women and eating the meat of domesticated donkeys.

Another chain and 'Abdullah bin Muhammad's Kunyah is Abu Hisham. Az-Zuhri said

[Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan Sahih.

Narrated Abu Hurairah

"On the day of Khaibar, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibited every predator possessing canines, and the Mujath-thamah, and the domestic donkey."

He said: There are narrations on this topic from 'Ali, Jabir, Al-Bara', Ibn Abi Awfa, Anas, Al-'Irbad bin Sariyah, Abu Tha'labah, Ibn 'Umar and Abu Sa'eed.

[Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan Sahih.

'Abdul-'Aziz bin Muhammad and others reported this Hadith from Muhammad bin 'Amr, and they only mentioned one phrase: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibited every predator possessing canines."

Chapter 7: What Has Been Related About Eating From Utensils Of The Disbelievers

Narrated Abu Tha'labah Al-Khushani

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked about the pots of Zorastrians. He said: 'Clean them by washing them, and then cook in them." And he prohibited every predator possessing canines."

This is a well known Hadith of Abu Tha'labah, and it has been reported from him through routes other than this. And Abu Tha'labah's name is Jurthum, and they say: Jurhum, and they say: Nashib. This Hadith has also been mentioned by Abu Qilabah from Abu 'Asma Ar-Rahbi, from Abu Tha'labah.

Narrated Abu Tha'labah Al-Khushani

That he said: "O Messenger of Allah! We live in a land of the People of Book and we cook in their containers, and drink in their vessels." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "If you do not find other than them, then rinse them with water."

The he said: "O Messenger of Allah! We live in a land of game, so what should we do ?" He said: "When you send your trained dog, and you mentioned the Name of Allah, and he kills it, then eat it. And when you shoot it with your bow, and it is killed, then eat it.'"

[Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan Sahih.

Chapter 8: What Has Been Related About The Mouse That Dies In Cooking Fat

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas

From Maimunah that a mouse fell in some cooking fat and died. So the Prophet (ﷺ) was asked about that and he said: "Remove it (the mouse) and what was around it and then eat it (the fat)."

He said: There are something on this topic from Abu Hurairah.

[Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan Sahih. This Hadith has been related from Az-Zuhri, from 'Ubaidullah, from Ibn 'Abbas, saying: "The Prophet (ﷺ) as asked" and they did not mention Maimunah in it. The narration of Ibn 'Abbas from Maimunah is more correct. Ma'mar reported similar from Az-Zuhri, from Sa'eed bin Al-Musayyab, from Abu Hurairah, from the Prophet (ﷺ). But this hadith is not preserved. He said: I heard Muhammad bin Isma'il saying: "The Hadith of Ma'mar from Az-Zuhri, from Sa'eed bin al-Musayyab, from Abu Hurairah, from the Prophet (ﷺ)" - and he mentioned in it: 'That he was asked about it, so he said: "When it (the coking fat) is solid then remove it (the mouse) and what was around it. And when it is liquid then do not use it.'" This is a mistake. Ma'mar made a mistake with it. And he said: What is correct is the narration of Az-Zuhri from 'Ubaidullah, from Ibn 'Abbas, and Maimunah.

Chapter 9: What Has Been Related About The Prohibition Of Eating And Drinking With The Left Hand

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar

That the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Let none of you wat with his left hand nor drink with his left hand, for indeed Ash-Shaitan eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand."

He said: There are narrations on this topic from Jabir, 'Umar bin Abi Salamah, Salamah bin Al-Akwa', Anas bin Malik, and Hafsah.

[Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan Sahih. This is how Malik and Ibn 'Uyainah reported it from Az-Zuhri, from Abu Bakr bin 'Ubaidullah, from Ibn 'Umar. Ma'mar and 'Uqail reported it from Az-Zuhri, from Salim, from Ibn 'Umar. And the narration of Malik and Ibn 'Uyainah is more correct.

Narrated Az-Zuhri

From Salim, from his father, that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "When one of you eats, then let him eat with his right hand, and let him drink with his right hand, for indeed Ash-Shaitan eats with his left hand, and he drinks with his left hand."

Chapter 10: What Has Been Related About Licking The Fingers (After The Meal)

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."

Chapter 11: What Has Been Related About The Fallen Morsel

Narrated Jabir

That the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "When one of you eats food, and he drops a pieces of it, then let him remove anything suspicious from it and eat it. Do not leave it for Ash-Shaitan."

He said: There is something about this from Anas.

Narrated Anas

"When the Prophet (ﷺ) ate, he would lick his three fingers, and he said: 'If one of you drops a piece (of food) then let him remove any harm (dirt) from it and eat it, and do not leave it for Ash-Shaitan.' And he would order us to finish (clean) the dish. And he said: 'Indeed you do not know in which part of your food is the blessing.'

[Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan Gharib Sahih.

Narrated Al-Mu'alla bin Rashid

"My grandmother, Umm 'Asim narrated to me - and she was the slave woman of Sinan bin Salamah - she said: 'Nubaishah Al-Khair entered upon us while we were eating from a large bowl. He narrated to us that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever eats from A Qas'ah, then licks it, the Qas'ah will seek forgiveness for him."

[Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith is Gharib, we do not know of it except through the narration of Al-Mu'alla bin Rashid. And Yazid bin Harun and others among the A'immah reported this Hadith from Al-Mu'alla bin Rashid.

Chapter 12: What Has Been Related About It Being Disliked To Eat From The Middle Of The Food

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas

That the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Indeed the blessing descends to the middle of the food, so eat from its edges, and do not eat from its middle."

[Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan Sahih. It is only known through the narration of 'Ata' bin As-Sa'ib. Shu'bah and Ath-Thawri reported from 'Ata' bin As-Sa'ib.

There is something about this topic from Ibn 'Umar.