Manners of Eating (Part 3)

Correct way of eating:

The following are Sunnahs of eating:

• Eating with the right hand.
• Eating with three fingers (according to our need, five fingers can also be used).
• Eating food from the side of the plate.

Benefits:

1. Eating with the right hand:

 It is important that we eat with our right hand. By eating with the right hand Allah (S.W.T) will bestow his rehmat and blessings upon us. Our left hand is usually reserved for other functions (i.e. toilet related).

2. Eating with Three Fingers:

The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) used three fingers whilst eating.
These being the Index Finger, Middle Finger and the Thumb.

By using three fingers, small amounts of food can be taken. This allows us to chew easily and helps with digestion, which is necessary for good health.

Five Fingers:

There is no objection in using five fingers if the type of food so requires. But using five fingers without any reason and taking a lot of food is bad.

3. Eating from the side of the plate:

Hazrat Sayyiduna Ibn-e-Abbas (R.A) reported that a cup of soup was brought to the Holy Prophet (S.A.W). He then said: “Eat from its sides and don’t eat from its middle, because blessing comes down in its middle”.