Some hadiths discuss table manners, proving that the Prophet (saas) was very sensitive on these proprieties. The limited resources of his community did not prevent him from stressing this matter. Some examples of his table manners are:
1) Washing one's hands is sunnah:
Washing hands before and after a meal is very important for our health. The Prophet (saas) encouraged all believers to acquire this habit:
"Washing hands before a meal will eradicate poverty; washing them after a meal will eradicate sins." (at-Tabarani)
"Whoever retires for the night with food on his hands and some harm comes to him because of it has only himself to blame." (Abu Dawud)
"To wash one's hands and mouth before and after a meal is a source of blessings." (Abu Dawud)
2) It is a sunnah to open a meal by saying Bismillah and to end it by saying Alhamdulillah.
"When anyone of you intends to eat, he should say, Bismillah. In case he forgets, he should say Bismillah Awwaluhu wa Akhirahu at the end." (Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi)
Aisha (ra) relates that while the Messenger of Allah (saas) and six of the Companions were eating, a bedouin entered and ate all of the food in two bites. The Messenger of Allah (saas) said: "If he had said Bismillah, it should have been sufficient for all." (al-Tirmidhi)
3) The Prophet (saas) advised people to begin a meal with dates, salt, or water.
The Messenger of Allah (saas) never found fault with a meal brought to the table. If food he did not like was served, he would remain silent and simply not eat it.
4) It is a sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saas) to eat with right hand and to eat from the sides of the dish.
Umar ibn Salmah narrated that "during my childhood, the Prophet (saas) advised me to say Bismillah, eat with the right hand, and from (the part of the dish that was) in front of me." (Sahih Muslim)
"Eat from the sides of it and do not put your hand in the middle, for barakah descends on the middle." (al-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud)
5) Muslims should sit together during the meal, for eating together is more blissful:
"Sit down to eat together and recite the name of Allah. There will, then, be greater barakah for you in the meal." (Abu Dawud)
6) Food should not be taken too hot:
"There is no barakah in a hot meal, for Allah does not feed us fire. Eat your food after allowing it to cool down." (al-Bayhaqi)
7) Some points need to be considered when drinking:
Holding the glass in the right hand, one should breathe three times in the course of a drink without breathing into the glass. As Prophet Muhammad (saas) said: "The best drink in this world and the Hereafter is water. When you are thirsty, drink it by sips and not gulps, for gulping produces a sickness of the liver." (al-Daylami)
Abdullah ibn Abbas (ra) related that the Messenger of Allah (saas) forbade breathing or blowing air from the mouth into the drinking vessel (Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah).
The Messenger of Allah (saas) breathed three times (outside the vessel) in the course of a drink and said: "It is more thirst-quenching, healthier, and more wholesome" (Sahih Muslim, Book 023, Number 5030).
When distributing something to drink in a crowd, it should be moved to the right and held with the right hand. The Prophet (saas) would always share his drink with those nearby, whenever he was drinking milk or sweet juice. The glass would always be moved to the right.
Anas ibn Malik (ra) reported that to the Messenger of Allah (saas) was given a cup of milk mixed with water. On his right was a desert Arab, and on his left was Abu Bakr (ra). He (the Prophet) drank, then gave it to the desert Arab and said: "(Give it to the one) who is on the right, then again (to one) who is on the right." (Sahih Muslim, Book 023, Number 5032)
The Prophet (saas) loved to eat in the company of many people. As the food was served, he would say: "O Allah, make this food among the provisions, thanks for which is already paid and has become a means to attain the blessings of Paradise." He did not like food that was too hot; he would wait for it to cool down of its own accord and then eat it.
The Prophet (saas) recommended that believers should invite each other to eat together. Islamic scholars have decreed that Muslims, unless they have a valid reason or excuse, must accept an invitation from a fellow believer:
"When any one of you is invited to a feast, he should accept." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, and al-Tirmidhi)
Abu Hurayrah (ra) used to say: "One who does not come to the feast disobeys Allah and His Messenger (saas)." (Sahih al-Bukhari)
"When two people come together to issue an invitation, accept the one belonging to the door that is nearer. But if one of them comes before the other, accept the invitation of the one who comes first." (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 27, Number 3747)
"He who presents himself for a meal without being invited is a fasiq, and it is unlawful for him to partake of the food." (al-Bayhaqi)
"Verily, there are lofty rooms in Paradise in which their outside can be seen from inside and their inside from the outside. They are for those who use soft speech, feed food [to others], and spend the night in voluntary prayer while people are asleep." (al-Tirmidhi)
"Whoever feeds his brother in Islam the food he desires, his sins will be forgiven. Whoever pleases his brother in Islam pleases Allah." (at-Tabarani)
It is an important aspect of a believer's good manners to treat the person who accepts an invitation with respect.
