In arabic the word hadith means that which is new amongst things or a piece of information conveyed either in a small or large quantity.  It also refers to the speech of a person.

The word Hadith in Islamic terminology refers to reports of statements or action by prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) or of his tacit (about something) approval or disapproval of something said or done in his presence.

Hadiths are a supplement to and clarification to the Quran as well as clarifying matters in Islamic jurisprudence.

Hadith on food matters:

-On the authority of Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah said: “Allah the Almighty is good and accepts only that which is good. Allah has commanded the Faithful to do that which He commanded the Messengers, and the Almighty has said: “O ye Messengers! Eat of the good things, and do right..” (Quran 23:51). And Allah the Almighty has said: “O ye who believe! Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you..” (2:172). Then he mentioned [the case of] a man who, having journeyed far, is disheveled and dusty and who spreads out his hands to the sky [saying]: O Lord! O Lord!-while his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing unlawful, and he is nourished unlawfully, so how can he be answered!” (Muslim).

-On the authority of Abu Ya’la Shahddad ibn Aus, the Messenger of Allah said: “Verily Allah has prescribed proficiency in all things. Thus, if you kill, kill well; and if you slaughter, slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters” (Muslim).

-In an incident narrated by Rafi’ bin Khadij, the Prophet told Muslims who wanted to slaughter some animals using reeds, “Use whatever causes blood to flow, and eat the animals if the Name of Allah has been mentioned on slaughtering them…” (Bukhari).

-Narrated Abu Thalaba: Allah’s Messenger forbade the eating of the meat of beasts having fangs (Bukhari).

-Narrated Ibn Umar: The Prophet cursed the one who did Muthla to an animal (i.e. cut its limbs or some other part of its body while it is still alive (Bukhari).

-Narrated At-Tirmidhi: Prophet’s warning in which he says, “Every flesh nourished by Haram, the Hell-Fire deserves it more than any other place.


The Prophet’s (PBUH – peace be upon him) guidance with regard to food is perfect guidance. It was described by Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) as follows:


The correct view is that it is obligatory to mention the name of Allaah (say Bismillaah) when eating. The ahaadeeth which state this are saheeh (authentic) and are clear, with no contradictions in them.

When he raised the food to his mouth, he would say, Allaah be praised with an abundant, beautiful, blessed praise. He is the One Who is Sufficient, Who feeds and is never fed, The One Who is longed for, along with that which is with Him, and the One Who is needed. He is Our Lord, may He be glorified. Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5142).

He never criticized food at all. If he liked it, he would eat it, and if he did not like it, he would leave it and not say anything. Narrated by al-Bukhaari (3370) and Muslim (2064).

Or he would say, “I do not feel like eating this.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5076) and Muslim (1946).


And he said to his step-son ‘Umar ibn Abi Salamah (ra – may Allah be pleased with him) when he was eating with him: “Say Bismillaah and eat from that which is in front of you in the dish*.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5061) and Muslim (2022). [* At the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), people used to eat together from one dish, and children would sometimes forget the correct etiquette. – Translator]

He would repeatedly urge his guests to eat, as generous hosts do, and as is seen in the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (ra – May Allah be pleased with him), narrated by al-Bukhaari, about the story of drinking milk, where he repeatedly said to him, “Drink” and he kept telling him to drink until he (the guest) said, “By the One Who sent you with the truth, I have no more room for it!” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (6087).

When he ate with others, he would not leave until he had made du’aa’ (supplication) for them. He made du’aa in the house of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Bisr (ra), and said: “O Allaah, bless for them that which You have provided for them, forgive them and have mercy on them.” Narrated by Muslim (2042).

He commanded people to eat with their right hands and forbade them to eat with their left hands. He said, “The Shaytaan (the devil) eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand.” Narrated by Muslim (2020). This implies that eating with the left hand is haraam (forbiden), and this is the correct view, because the one who eats with his left hand is either a shaytaan (a devil), or he is imitating the Shaytaan.

It was also reported in a saheeh hadeeth that he told a man who was eating with his left hand in his presence, “Eat with your right hand!” The man said, “I cannot.” He said, “May you never be able to!” – and the man never lifted his right hand to his mouth after that. Narrated by Muslim (2021). If it was permissible (to eat with the left hand), he would not have prayed against him for doing so. It was the man’s stubborn arrogance that made him refuse to obey the command, and this is the utmost disobedience which deserved this prayer against him.

He commanded those who complained that they never felt full to eat together and not separately, and to mention the name of Allaah (say Bismillaah) over the food so that He might bless it for them.” Narrated by Abu Dawood (3764) and Ibn Maajah (3286).

It was also reported that he said, “I do not eat reclining.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5083.

He used to eat using the first three fingers (of his right hand), which is the best way of eating.

The Prophet’s guidance regarding diet:

1, The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to know what he was eating.

2, He used to eat what was good for him.

3, He used to eat enough to keep him going, but no so much as to make him fat. Ibn ‘Umar (ra – may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The believer eats in one stomach whilst the kaafir (dis-believer) eats in seven.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5081) and Muslim (2060).

4, He taught his ummah something to protect them from diseases caused by eating and drinking. He said: “The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat a few mouthfuls, to keep him going. If he must do that (fill his stomach), then let him fill one third with food, one third with drink and one third with air.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (1381), Ibn Maajah (3349);


WARNING for eating Haraam
Hazrat Jaabir [radhiallaahu anhu] reported that Rasulullah [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] said: “Flesh which has grown out of unlawful things will not enter Jannah, but hell is more fitting for all flesh which is grown out of that which is unlawful.”

Hazrat Saad bin Abi Waqas [radhiallaahu anhu] said, “O Rasulullah [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] make dua that Allah Ta’ala, makes me of those whose prayers will be answered.” Rasulullah [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] replied: “O Saad keep your food pure and halaal and you will become of those whose prayers are answered. I swear by Him, in whose hand Muhammed[sallallaahu alayhi wasallam]’s life lies, that when a man casts one morsel of Haraam food into his stomach, The righteous deeds of his shall not be accepted for forty days.”

Hazrat Abu Bakr [radhiallaahu anhu] reports that Rasulullah [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] said: “A body which has been nourished by unlawful things shall never enter Jannah.”

Hazrat Abu Hurairah [radhiallaahu anhu] reports that Rasulullah [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] said, “Allah is pure and accepts only that which is pure. Allah has given the same command to the believers as he has given to the prophets.” Allah has said, “O Prophets! Eat of the pure things and do good deeds.” (Sura Mo’minoon). Allah has said, “O’ you who believe! Eat of the pure things, which we have provided you.” (Sura Baqarah).

Then he mentioned (the case of) a man, who, having journeyed far, is dishevelled and dusty and who spreads out his hands to the sky (saying): O’ Rabb! O’ Rabb! While his food is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful and he is nourished with unlawful things. How can he be answered?

In one hadith it is mentioned: “If a person earns or acquires anything through dishonest means and then gives away a part of it in charity, his act of charity will not be accepted, and if he will spend from it on his needs there will be no auspiciousness or real prosperity, and should he leave it behind to his descendants on his death, it will serve for him as hell’s provision.”

The Sahaba’s [radhiallaahu anhum] wives used to tell their husbands, ‘Fear Allah concerning us. Earn for us Halaal. We shall make Sabr (endure patience) over hunger, but we cannot make sabr upon the Fire of Jahannam.

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