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Wash your hands before taking
your meals. It is keeping with the rules of cleanliness and neatness that
your mind should be satisfied about the cleanliness of your hands before
starting the meal.
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Say
Bismilla hirrahhama nirrahim
' in the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent ; the Most Merciful ',
while starting the meal. Should you forget this, then say
As
soon as you realise the oversight during the meal. Remember, the meal
which is not consecrated by the Name of Allah is made lawful by the devil
for himself.
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Do not lean against anything
when sitting down for a meal. Sit in a humble position with your knees
raised or legs crossed or with one knee prostrate and the other one
raised. The Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) used to sit for meals. in
this posture.
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Always eat with your right
hand. However, the left hand may be used simultaneously with the right
hand, if needed.
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Use three fingers while
eating. If required, use four fingers except the little finger. Do not put
your fingers in the food up to their roots.
-
Do not take a big morsel, nor
a small one. Put the second morsel into your mouth only after swallowing
the first one.
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Do not wipe your fingers with
bread. This is a filthy habit.
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Avoid brushing off the loaves
and refrain from knocking them about also.
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Eat out of the plate from the
edge which is nearest to you. Do not put your hand in the middle of the
plate nor extend your hand to eat from that edge of the plate which is
nearer to other diners.
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If the morsel drops from your
hands pick it up and eat it after cleaning or washing it.
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Eat in company. Dining in
company promotes cordiality and love and is a source of blessing.
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Do not find fault with the
food. Leave it if you don't like it.
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Do not eat while the food is
piping hot or simmering.
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Avoid breaking into guffaws or
indulging in too much conversation during dinner.
-
Do not sniff the food
needlessly, It is bad habit. Do not often open your mouth so wide
during dinner that the other people may see the food you are munching
between your teeth, nor should you pick your teeth repeatedly in the
course of eating. The other diners will find this habit disgusting.
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Sit Down to eat and sit
down also while taking a drink of water. However, if needed, you may eat
fruit or drink water while standing.
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If some soup is left over in
the plate, drink it ; otherwise clear the sediments from the plate with a
finger and lick the finger.
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Do not blow on the articles of
food. The breath that we exhale is polluted and poisonous.
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Take three breathing pauses
while drinking water. By this method you can drink according to your need
and get full satisfaction. Beware, drinking all the water three is in the
container in one breath may be harmful.
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While eating in company pay
due regard to the needs of the slow diners as well as those who eat at a
rapid pace and rise only when all others have stopped eating.
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When you have finishes eating,
lick your fingers and then wash your hands.
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Do not pick up two pieces or
slices at once time while eating fruit.
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Do not drink water from the
spout of a water pot or a goblet etc. Drink from such a container that you
may clearly see the water that you are pouring into your mouth on order
that no filth harmful substance goes into your stomach.
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Say this prayer at the
end of the meal :
Alhamdu
lillahil-ladhi at'amana wa saqana wa ja'alana min-al-Muslimin.
"praise be to God Who fed us and gave us drink and
made us Muslims."
