The Etiquette of Eating & Personal Hygiene from Islamic Perpective

Even mundane acts like eating or drinking are viewed as opportunities to worship God, thus etiquette for eating and drinking has evolved from the words of God in the Quran and the traditions of his Prophet, Muhammad.

advised that water should be drunk in three breaths rather than gulping the water in one mouthful, and he cautioned against breathing into the vessel because it contaminates the water with spittle. Correct etiquette is an important part of the religion of Islam.

Use siwak, for it purifies the mouth and pleases the Lord,’ a

cleanliness and over 1400 years ago

is pleased when one of His slaves eats something and praises Him for it, or drinks something and praises Him for it,” and that is what a true believer is aims for – to please God!

Alhamdulillah’ (all praises and thanks are due to God) as an acknowledgement that God is the one who provides all our sustenance

Bismillah (I begin with the name of God) to invoke God’s blessings on whatever he may be about to do,

“And eat and drink, but waste not in extravagance, certainly He (Allah) likes not those who waste in extravagance.” (Quran 7:31)

etiquette of eating includes eating with a group rather than alone, sharing the bounties God provides, eating with three fingers, licking the remains of the food off your fingers, not reclining while eating, and refraining from spitting or blowing your nose whilst eating

food God provides is full of the blessings of God. He taught us to be thankful and grateful. Prophet Muhammad advised us to pick up, dust off and eat any pieces of food that fall on the floor, to be certain not to miss any blessings or to leave the food for Satan.