A Glimpse at some Islamic Etiquettes | Part 1

The Religion of Islam has introduced various manners which Muslims are encouraged to abide by in order to form a complete Islamic personality. From them are the following. Dining Etiquettes [1] One should begin their meal by mentioning the name of Allah by saying: Bismillaah [i.e., I begin with the Name of Allah] and conclude by praising and thanking Him by saying Al-hamdu lillaah: [i.e., All praise and thanks are for Allah]. One should eat from the nearest side of the dish to him and use his right hand, for the left hand is generally used for cleaning unpleasant things. ‘Umar bin Abi Salamah said:

 “When I was a young boy, I was [eating] in the room of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and my hands were reaching (for food) all over the plate (to eat). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me: “O young boy, mention the name of Allah, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is in front of you.” [al-Bukhari]

[2] One should never complain or criticize the food however distasteful it may be. Abu Hurairah (ﷺ) said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) never criticized any food. If he liked it, he would eat it, if not he would leave it.” [al-Bukhari]
[3] One should avoid eating or drinking in excess. Allah (SWT) says:

 (…and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allah) likes not those who waste by extravagance) [7:311]

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Man does not fill a container worse than the stomach. It is enough that a human takes a few morsels with which he can straighten his back, and if he must [eat more], then [let him keep] a third for his food, a third for his drink, and a third for his breath.” [al-Tirmidhi]

[4] One should not breathe or blow into vessels. Ibn ‘Abbas said that

 the Prophet (ﷺ) forbade breathing into vessels or blowing into them.” [Abu Dawood & at-Tirmidhi ]

[5] One should not soil food or beverage for others. [6] One should eat with others and not individually. A man said to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ):

 “Indeed, we eat but our hunger is not satiated.” He said: “Do you gather to eat or eat individually?” He said: “Individually.” He said: “Gather and eat together and mention the Name of Allah, and your [food] will be blessed.” [Abu Dawood ibn Maajah]

 [7] One must seek permission to take others to an invitation. A person from the Ansar named Abu Shuaib invited five people from which the Prophet (ﷺ) was one of them. Another person came with them. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“This man has come with us: If you allow, he will come in; if not he will go back.” The host said: “No, rather, I give him my permission.” [al-Bukhari]

Manners of Relieving Oneself When one enters the toilet, they should supplicate. Antis said that the Prophet (ﷺ) upon relieving himself would say: “Bismillah Allahumma inni a’oodhu bika min al-kubthi wal-khabaa’ith.”

“I begin with the Name of Allah, O Allah, indeed I seek refuge in you from the male and female Jinn.” [al-Bukhari]

A’ishah (RA) said:

“When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would leave the place where he relieved himself, he would say: `Ghufraanak’

 (`I seek your forgiveness.’)

 [Abu Dawood, at-Tirmidhi & ibn Maajah]

One should not face the Qiblah (direction of Mecca) nor give it his back while relieving himself. Abu Hurairah (RA) said:

“Indeed I am only like a father is to his son. You should not face the Qiblah nor give it your backs (when one of you goes to relieve himself) nor should they wipe themselves with less than three rocks, while not using a piece of dung or a bone” [Abu Dawood & ibn Maajah]

One should conceal himself when he answers the call of nature. Jaabir (RA) said:

“Whenever the Prophet wanted to relieve himself he would retreat to a place where no one could see him.” [Abu Dawood]

One should not use his right hand in order to clean filth. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“When one of you drinks, they should not breathe in the vessel, when he goes to relieve himself, he should not touch his private part with his right hand, and he should not wipe himself with his right hand.” [al-Bukhari]

Manners of Seeking Permission [1] A person is outside a house and seeks permission to enter. Allah (SWT) says:

 (O you who believe! Enter not houses other than your own, until you have sought permission and greeted those in them,) [24:27]

[2] A person is inside a house and seeks permission to enter a room. Allah (SWT) says:

And when the children among you come to puberty, then let them (also) ask for permission, as those senior to them (in age). [24:59]

This is intended to safeguard the households and protect the privacy of homes, as indicated in the Prophet’s (ﷺ) words:

 “A man was looking into the room of the Prophet (ﷺ) from a hole in the door, and the Prophet (ﷺ) had a tooth of a comb with which he was scratching his head. He said to him, ‘If I had known you were looking, I would have poked your eye with it. Indeed seeking permission was legislated so that one would not see [the private affairs of one’s house] ‘.” [al-Bukhari & Muslim]

 One should not be persistent in seeking permission. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

 “One should seek permission thrice. If you are granted permission [then enter] and if not, go back” [Muslim]

The person seeking permission should make himself known. Jaabir (RA) said:

“I came to the Prophet (ﷺ) in regard to a loan of my father. I knocked on the door and he said, Who is there?’ I said: ‘I am’ He replied, ‘I am, I am!! as if he did not like [what I said].” [al-Bukhari]