Is It Sunnah to Eat with Hands? Find Out Here!

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Hi, readers! Are you looking for an explanation about "Is it sunnah to eat with hands?"? If your answer is "Yes," congratulations! You are now reading the right article. Why? Because that is precisely what I will explain here. As Muslims, it is important for us to understand this concept, which is why I wrote this article. So, be sure to read it to the end.

Specifically, there are some important points about "Is it sunnah to eat with hands?" that I will explain now. The key points I mean are as follows:

Meaning of Sunnah to Eat with Hands

The important point I will discuss now about "Is it sunnah to eat with hands?" is the meaning of the phrase "sunnah to eat with hands." I want you to understand this to gain a complete understanding of our discussion's focus.

If we consider the sentence "Is it sunnah to eat with hands," we can identify two key points that we must comprehend. The two points I refer to are as follows:

Sunnah

By the way, do you know what sunnah means? If you're not familiar with it, remember that sunnah refers to everything that is attributed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This is a general explanation of what sunnah encompasses.

The specific meaning of sunnah is as follows:

كُلُّ مَا نُقِلَ عَنْ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - مِنْ أَقْوَالٍ وَأَفْعَالٍ وَتَقْرِيْرٍ ، وَصِفَاتٍ خَلْقِيَّةٍ وَخُلُقِيَّةٍ، سَوَاءً أَكَانَ ذَلِكَ قَبْلَ الْبِعْثَةِ أَمْ بَعْدَهَا

Everything that is narrated from the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) (peace be upon him), including his sayings, actions, approvals, attributes, and ethical qualities, whether before or after his prophethood.

This is one of the definitions of sunnah according to hadith scholars.

You can find an explanation of sunnah in the following hadith:

مَنْ سَنَّ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ سُنَّةً حَسَنَةً فَلَهُ أَجْرُهَا وَأَجْرُ مَنْ عَمَلَ بِهَا بَعْدَهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْءٌ وَمَنْ سَنَّ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ سُنَّةً سَيِّئَةً كَانَ عَلَيْهِ وِزْرُهَا وَوِزْرُ مَنْ عَمَلَ بِهَا مِنْ بَعْدِهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أَوْزَارِهِمْ شَيْءٌ

Whoever sets an example of good practices in Islam will receive their reward, along with the reward of those who follow them, without diminishing their rewards in any way. Conversely, whoever establishes a bad practice will bear their own sin, as well as the sin of those who follow them, without reducing their burdens in any way.

Eat with Hands

As for what is meant by "Eat with hands," it is very simple: it refers to someone eating using their hands.

We can understand "Eat with hands" in several ways, as follows:

1. The Prophet Muhammad used to eat with his hands.
2. Eating with hands is considered one of the good practices in Islam.

In general, when someone explains the sunnah of eating with hands, it means that the Prophet Muhammad practiced this and that it is a commendable action in Islam. However, if we find someone asking about the sunnah of eating with hands, they are inquiring whether it is permissible in Islam.

This is a brief explanation of the meaning of "Sunnah to eat with hands" that we must understand.

Hadith About Eating with Hands

The important point regarding "Is it sunnah to eat with hands?" that I will explain now is the hadith about eating with hands. I want you to understand this so that you can grasp the fundamental arguments to answer the question.

The hadith regarding the sunnah of eating with hands is as follows:

عَنْ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : إِذَا أَكَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِيَمِينِهِ وَإِذَا شَرِبَ فَلْيَشْرَبْ بِيَمِينِهِ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَأْكُلُ بِشِمَالِهِ وَيَشْرَبُ بِشِمَالِهِ . أَخْرَجَهُ مُسْلِمٌ

From Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) (peace be upon him) said, "If one of you eats, let him eat with his right hand, and if he drinks, let him drink with his right hand. Verily, Satan eats with his left hand and drinks with his left as well." This hadith was narrated by Muslim.

This is a hadith about eating with hands that we must understand.

Is It Sunnah to Eat with Hands?

The important point about "Is it sunnah to eat with hands?" that I'm going to explain here is a specific answer. In other words, does Islam permit Muslims to eat with their hands?

Read Also: Is It Sunnah to Talk While Eating?

Dear readers, if we understand some of the explanations above, we can conclude that eating with hands is indeed sunnah. Why? Because the Prophet Muhammad practiced this. However, it’s important to remember that eating with hands is not an obligation for Muslims. Therefore, if they choose not to do so, they are not sinning.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the question of whether it is sunnah to eat with hands is one that highlights important practices within Islam. Based on the teachings and actions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), eating with hands is indeed a sunnah, reflecting his example and offering a commendable way to engage with food. The hadith emphasizes the significance of using the right hand while eating and drinking, as it sets a standard against imitating Satan's actions. However, it is crucial to note that while this practice is encouraged, it is not obligatory; Muslims are free to choose how they eat without fearing sin if they prefer utensils. Understanding these nuances not only fosters appreciation for the traditions of Islam but also encourages mindfulness in our daily actions.

I hope this article has clarified the topic for you, and I look forward to sharing more insights in future discussions.