Food & Eating

كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع إِذَا وُضِعَ الطَّعَامُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ قَالَ- اللَّهُمَّ هَذَا مِنْ مَنِّكَ وَ فَضْلِكَ وَ عَطَائِكَ فَبَارِكْ لَنَا فِيهِ وَ سَوِّغْنَاهُ وَ ارْزُقْنَا خَلَفاً إِذَا أَكَلْنَاهُ وَ رُبَّ مُحْتَاجٍ إِلَيْهِ رَزَقْتَ فَأَحْسَنْتَ اللَّهُمَّ وَ اجْعَلْنَا مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ فَإِذَا رُفِعَ الْخِوَانُ قَالَ- الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي حَمَلَنَا فِي الْبَرِّ وَ الْبَحْرِ وَ رَزَقَنَا مِنَ

12. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah from ‘Amr al-Mutatabbib from abu Yahya al-San‘aniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, when finding food placed before him said, ‘O Lord, this is from Y

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ اذْكُرِ اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى الطَّعَامِ فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ فَقُلِ- الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي‌ يُطْعِمُ وَ لا يُطْعَمُ‌.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Mention the name of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, on food and when you complete eating say, ‘All praise belongs to Allah who feeds and is not fed.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ مَنْ ذَكَرَ اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عِنْدَ طَعَامٍ أَوْ شَرَابٍ فِي أَوَّلِهِ وَ حَمِدَ اللَّهَ فِي آخِرِهِ لَمْ يُسْأَلْ عَنْ نَعِيمِ ذَلِكَ الطَّعَامِ أَبَداً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘One who mentions the name of Allah on food or drink at the beginning and ‘All praise belongs to Allah’ at the end, he will never be asked about the blessings of the food.’”

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِذَا رُفِعَتِ الْمَائِدَةُ قَالَ- اللَّهُمَّ أَكْثَرْتَ وَ أَطَبْتَ وَ بَارَكْتَ فَأَشْبَعْتَ وَ أَرْوَيْتَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي‌ يُطْعِمُ وَ لا يُطْعَمُ‌.

‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, when the table was moved would say, “O Lord, you have granted a great deal, have made it very good, blessed it, made us satisfied and quenched. All praise belongs to Allah who feeds and is not fed.’””

كَانَ أَبِي ع يَقُولُ‌ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَشْبَعَنَا فِي جَائِعِينَ وَ أَرْوَانَا فِي ظَامِئِينَ وَ آوَانَا فِي ضَائِعِينَ‌[1] وَ حَمَلَنَا فِي رَاجِلِينَ وَ آمَنَنَا فِي خَائِفِينَ وَ أَخْدَمَنَا فِي عَانِينَ‌[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has stated this Hadith. ‘My father would say, “All praise belongs to Allah who has made us satisfied with food among the hungry ones, quenched our thirst among the thirsty people. He has given us shelter among the homeless ones, given us means of transport among those who move without means of t

أَكَلْتُ مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع طَعَاماً فَمَا أُحْصِي كَمْ مَرَّةً قَالَ- الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي جَعَلَنِي أَشْتَهِيهِ.

“I ate food with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and I do not know how many times he (the Imam) said, ‘All praise belongs to Allah who has made me to have the appetite for food.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ ضَمِنْتُ لِمَنْ يُسَمِّي عَلَى طَعَامِهِ أَنْ لَا يَشْتَكِيَ مِنْهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ ابْنُ الْكَوَّاءِ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَقَدْ أَكَلْتُ الْبَارِحَةَ طَعَاماً فَسَمَّيْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آذَانِي فَقَالَ لَعَلَّكَ أَكَلْتَ أَلْوَاناً فَسَمَّيْتَ عَلَى بَعْضِهَا وَ لَمْ تُسَمِّ عَلَى بَعْضٍ يَا لُكَعُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin guaranteed those who mention the name of Allah on food that it will not harm them. Ibn al-Kawwa, said to ’Amir al-Mu’minin, ‘O ’Amir al-Mu’minin last night I ate a meal and I mentioned the name of Allah on it but it has given me trouble.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Perh

شَكَوْتُ مَا أَلْقَى مِنْ أَذَى الطَّعَامِ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذَا أَكَلْتُهُ فَقَالَ لَمْ تُسَمِّ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي لَأُسَمِّي وَ إِنَّهُ لَيَضُرُّنِي فَقَالَ لِي إِذَا قَطَعْتَ التَّسْمِيَةَ بِالْكَلَامِ ثُمَّ عُدْتَ إِلَى الطَّعَامِ تُسَمِّي قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ فَمِنْ هَاهُنَا يَضُرُّكَ أَمَا لَوْ أَنَّكَ إِذَا عُدْتَ إِلَى الطَّعَامِ سَمَّيْتَ مَا ضَرَّكَ.

“I once complained before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the trouble I face from food. He (the Imam) said, ‘You may have eaten without mentioning the name of Allah.’ I said, ‘I had mentioned the name of Allah but it gives me trouble.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘When you discontinue mentioning the name of Allah by speaking, the

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَيْفَ أُسَمِّي عَلَى الطَّعَامِ قَالَ فَقَالَ إِذَا اخْتَلَفَتِ الْآنِيَةُ فَسَمِّ عَلَى كُلِّ إِنَاءٍ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ نَسِيتُ أَنْ أُسَمِّيَ قَالَ تَقُولُ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ عَلَى أَوَّلِهِ وَ آخِرِهِ.

‘In the name of Allah at its beginning and at its end.’”

كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَحَضَرَ وَقْتُ الْعِشَاءِ فَذَهَبْتُ أَقُومُ فَقَالَ اجْلِسْ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَجَلَسْتُ حَتَّى وُضِعَ الْخِوَانُ فَسَمَّى حِينَ وُضِعَ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ قَالَ- الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ هَذَا مِنْكَ وَ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ ص.

“Once I was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and it became the time of al-‘Isha’ Salat (prayer). I went to say Iqamah. He (the Imam) said, ‘Sit down, O abu ‘Abd Allah.’ I then sat down until food was made available. He (the Imam) mentioned the name of Allah when food was placed for eating. When he (the Imam) finished he (th

كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَأَطْعَمَنَا ثُمَّ رَفَعْنَا أَيْدِيَنَا فَقُلْنَا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- اللَّهُمَّ هَذَا مِنْكَ وَ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ.

“Once we were with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and he (the Imam) fed us food then we stopped eating and said, ‘All praise belongs to Allah.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘O Lord, this is from You and from Muhammad, Your messenger, O Lord, all praise belongs to you, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى الطَّعَامِ وَ لَا تَلْغَطُوا[1] فَإِنَّهُ نِعْمَةٌ مِنْ نِعَمِ اللَّهِ وَ رِزْقٌ مِنْ رِزْقِهِ يَجِبُ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيهِ شُكْرُهُ وَ ذِكْرُهُ وَ حَمْدُهُ.

’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, “You must mention the name of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, on your food and do not speak nonsense, because it is a bounty of the bounties of Allah, and it is obligatory on those to whom He grants it to thank Him, speak of Him and praise Him.’”

أَمَرَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بِلَحْمٍ فَبُرِّدَ ثُمَّ أُتِيَ بِهِ مِنْ بَعْدُ فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي جَعَلَنِي أَشْتَهِيهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ النِّعْمَةُ فِي الْعَافِيَةِ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ النِّعْمَةِ عَلَى الْقُدْرَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), commanded to bring meat but it became cold and later it was brought. He (the Imam) said, ‘All praise belongs to Allah who made me to have the appetite for it.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Bounty in good health is better than the bounty with constraints.”’

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَا مِنْ رَجُلٍ يَجْمَعُ عِيَالَهُ وَ يَضَعُ مَائِدَةً بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَ يُسَمِّي وَ يُسَمُّونَ فِي أَوَّلِ الطَّعَامِ وَ يَحْمَدُونَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي آخِرِهِ فَتَرْتَفِعُ الْمَائِدَةُ حَتَّى يُغْفَرَ لَهُمْ.

‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “Allah forgives a family who come together, prepare the table of food, they all mention the name of Allah at the beginning of food and praise Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, at the end

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ لَا تَأْكُلُوا مِنْ رَأْسِ الثَّرِيدِ وَ كُلُوا مِنْ جَوَانِبِهِ فَإِنَّ الْبَرَكَةَ فِي رَأْسِهِ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ghiyath ibn Ibrahim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ’Do not eat from the top of Tharid but eat from its sides because blessing is on its top.’” (Tharid is loaf of bread b

أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يُقَوَّمُ مَا فِيهَا ثُمَّ يُؤْكَلُ لِأَنَّهُ يَفْسُدُ وَ لَيْسَ لَهُ بَقَاءٌ فَإِنْ جَاءَ طَالِبُهَا غَرِمُوا لَهُ الثَّمَنَ قِيلَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَا يُدْرَى سُفْرَةُ مُسْلِمٍ أَوْ سُفْرَةُ مَجُوسِيٍّ فَقَالَ هُمْ فِي سَعَةٍ حَتَّى يَعْلَمُوا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin was asked about a package of food which is found having been left on the road, in which there is a large amount of meat, bread, eggs and cheese and there is a knife in it. ’Amir al-Mu’minin said, ‘It must be evaluated and its contents used for food because it is p

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا أَكَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَأْكُلْ مِمَّا يَلِيهِ.

‘When you eat you must eat from what is nearest to you.’”

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَلْطَعُ الْقَصْعَةَ[1] وَ يَقُولُ مَنْ لَطَعَ قَصْعَةً فَكَأَنَّمَا تَصَدَّقَ بِمِثْلِهَا.

‘The Messenger of Allah, when eating would wipe the dish clean and say, “Whoever, wipes the dish clean is as if has given charity as much.’””

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَسْتَاكُ عَرْضاً وَ يَأْكُلُ هَرْتاً وَ قَالَ الْهَرْتُ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ بِأَصَابِعِهِ جَمِيعاً.

“’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), would brush his teeth widthwise and eat using all of his fingers.’”

أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَجْلِسُ جِلْسَةَ الْعَبْدِ وَ يَضَعُ يَدَهُ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ وَ يَأْكُلُ بِثَلَاثِ أَصَابِعَ وَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ يَأْكُلُ هَكَذَا لَيْسَ كَمَا يَفْعَلُ الْجَبَّارُونَ أَحَدُهُمْ يَأْكُلُ بِإِصْبَعَيْهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), would sit like slaves, place his hand on the ground and eat with his three fingers. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, would also eat in the same way and not the way a tyrant one eats with his two fingers.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا أَكَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ طَعَاماً فَمَصَّ أَصَابِعَهُ الَّتِي أَكَلَ بِهَا قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بَارَكَ اللَّهُ فِيكَ.

“When one of you eats food he should wipe (lick) his fingers, clean with which he has eaten; Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, says, ‘Allah grants you blessings.”””

أَكَلَ الْغِلْمَانُ يَوْماً فَاكِهَةً وَ لَمْ يَسْتَقْصُوا أَكْلَهَا وَ رَمَوْا بِهَا فَقَالَ لَهُمْ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمُ اسْتَغْنَيْتُمْ فَإِنَّ أُنَاساً لَمْ يَسْتَغْنُوا أَطْعِمُوهُ مَنْ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ.

“One day boys ate fruit but they did not eat them all and threw them away. Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), said to them, ’Allah is free of all defects, if you did not need them, there are people who need them. You must feed those who are needy.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ تَحْضُرُ وَ قَدْ وُضِعَ الطَّعَامُ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ فِي أَوَّلِ الْوَقْتِ يُبْدَأُ بِالطَّعَامِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ قَدْ مَضَى مِنَ الْوَقْتِ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ تَخَافُ أَنْ تَفُوتَكَ فَتُعِيدَ الصَّلَاةَ فَابْدَأْ بِالصَّلَاةِ.

“I once asked Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about Salat (prayer) for which the time has begun and food is made available. He (the Imam) said, ‘If it is the beginning of the time for Salat (prayer), then first begin with food; but if the time has passed and you are afraid of missing Salat (prayer) for which you then must do Qa

لَنَا أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع إِنْ قُمْتُ عَلَى رُءُوسِكُمْ وَ أَنْتُمْ تَأْكُلُونَ فَلَا تَقُومُوا حَتَّى تَفْرُغُوا وَ لَرُبَّمَا دَعَا بَعْضَنَا فَيُقَالُ لَهُ هُمْ يَأْكُلُونَ فَيَقُولُ دَعْهُمْ حَتَّى يَفْرُغُوا.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), said to us, ‘If I stand up above you when you are eating, do not stand up until you complete eating.’ Perhaps he called a certain one of us and it was said that they are eating; he (the Imam) would say, ’Leave them until they finish.’”

كَانَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع إِذَا أَكَلَ أَحَدُنَا لَا يَسْتَخْدِمُهُ حَتَّى يَفْرُغَ مِنْ طَعَامِهِ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), would not ask us to work when we were eating until we finished eating.’”

كَانَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع يَضَعُ جَوْزِينَجَةً[1] عَلَى الْأُخْرَى وَ يُنَاوِلُنِي.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), would place Jawzinajah (a type of sweet) one on top of the other, and then give them to me.’”

قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع‌ رُبَّمَا أُتِيَ بِالْمَائِدَةِ فَأَرَادَ بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ أَنْ يَغْسِلَ يَدَهُ فَيَقُولُ مَنْ كَانَتْ يَدُهُ نَظِيفَةً فَلَا بَأْسَ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَغْسِلَ يَدَهُ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), when food was made available and certain people had not washed their hands, would say, ‘Those whose hands are clean can eat without washing their hands.’”

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ هُوَ يَأْكُلُ خَلًّا وَ زَيْتاً فِي قَصْعَةٍ سَوْدَاءَ مَكْتُوبٍ فِي وَسَطِهَا بِصُفْرَةٍ- قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ فَقَالَ لِي ادْنُ يَا بَزِيعُ فَدَنَوْتُ فَأَكَلْتُ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ حَسَا[2] مِنَ الْمَاءِ ثَلَاثَ حَسِيَّاتٍ حِينَ لَمْ يَبْقَ مِنَ الْخُبْزِ شَيْ‌ءٌ ثُمَّ نَاوَلَنِيهَا فَحَسَوْتُ الْبَقِيَّةَ.

“I once visited abu Ja’far (a.s.), when he was eating vinegar with oil in a black bowl, in the middle of which it was written, ‘Say Allah is one’. He (the Imam) said to me, ‘Come close, O Bazi’’. I went close and ate with him (the Imam). He (the Imam) sipped water three times when bread was finished; then he gave it to

سَمِعْتُ الرِّضَا ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ أَكَلَ فِي مَنْزِلِهِ طَعَاماً فَسَقَطَ مِنْهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ فَلْيَتَنَاوَلْهُ وَ مَنْ أَكَلَ فِي الصَّحْرَاءِ أَوْ خَارِجاً فَلْيَتْرُكْهُ لِطَائِرٍ أَوْ سَبُعٍ.

‘If one eats food in his house and pieces fall, he must pick them up; but if one eats in wilderness or out of the house he can leave such pieces for the birds and beasts.’”

أَوْلَمَ إِسْمَاعِيلُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَلَيْكَ بِالْمَسَاكِينِ فَأَشْبِعْهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- وَ ما يُبْدِئُ الْباطِلُ‌ وَ ما يُعِيدُ.

“’Isma’il prepared food for a ceremony and abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), said to him, ’You must pay attention to the destitute to satisfy their hunger. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, says, “Falsehood is not served first or revisited for service.” (34:49)”’

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ص إِذَا أَكَلَ لَقَّمَ مَنْ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ وَ إِذَا شَرِبَ سَقَى مَنْ عَلَى يَمِينِهِ.

“’A’immah (a.s.), have said that the Holy Prophet, when eating would eat from what was in front of (nearest to) him, and when drinking would offer water to one on his right side.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَا تُؤْوُوا[1] مِنْدِيلَ الْغَمَرِ فِي الْبَيْتِ فَإِنَّهُ مَرْبِضٌ لِلشَّيَاطِينِ.

“’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Do not leave a food-stained towel at home without its being washed; it becomes plaything for Satan.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَطْرِفُوا[2] أَهَالِيَكُمْ فِي كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ مِنَ الْفَاكِهَةِ أَوِ اللَّحْمِ حَتَّى يَفْرَحُوا بِالْجُمُعَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Every Friday present fruits to your family or meat, so that they become happy because of Friday.’”

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ مَنْ بَنَى مَسْكَناً فَلْيَذْبَحْ كَبْشاً سَمِيناً وَ لْيُطْعِمْ لَحْمَهُ الْمَسَاكِينَ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ ادْحَرْ عَنِّي مَرَدَةَ الْجِنِّ وَ الْإِنْسِ وَ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي بُيُوتِنَا إِلَّا أُعْطِيَ مَا سَأَلَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Whoever builds a house should slaughter a healthy ram and feed its meat to the destitute. He then should say, ‘O Lord, drive away from me defiant ones o

إِذَا أَكَلْتَ شَيْئاً فَاسْتَلْقِ عَلَى قَفَاكَ وَ ضَعْ رِجْلَكَ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى الْيُسْرَى.

‘When you eat [something], then lie down on your back, then place your right leg on your left leg.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ كُلُوا مَا يَسْقُطُ مِنَ الْخِوَانِ فَإِنَّهُ شِفَاءٌ مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَسْتَشْفِيَ بِهِ.

’Eat what falls off of food, because in it is cure for all kinds of illness by the permission of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, for those who seek cures.’”

تَعَشَّيْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَتَمَةً فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْ عَشَائِهِ حَمِدَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ قَالَ هَذَا عَشَائِي وَ عَشَاءُ آبَائِي فَلَمَّا رُفِعَ الْخِوَانُ تَقَمَّمَ‌[1] مَا سَقَطَ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ أَلْقَاهُ إِلَى فِيهِ.

“Once I had dinner with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), at ‘Atmah (time of late evening Salat (prayer)). When he (the Imam) ended his dinner, he praised Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, and said, ‘This is my (manner of having) dinner and the dinner of my ancestors. When the table-spread was pulled out, he (the Imam) picked

شَكَوْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَجَعَ الْخَاصِرَةِ فَقَالَ عَلَيْكَ بِمَا يَسْقُطُ مِنْ الْخِوَانِ فَكُلْهُ قَالَ فَفَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ فَذَهَبَ عَنِّي قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ قَدْ كُنْتُ وَجَدْتُ ذَلِكَ فِي الْجَانِبِ الْأَيْمَنِ وَ الْأَيْسَرِ فَأَخَذْتُ ذَلِكَ فَانْتَفَعْتُ بِهِ.

‘You must eat pieces of food that fall on the table-spread.’ I (the narrator) followed the instruction and the pain went away. Ibrahim has said, ‘I then found it on the left and the right side; I did the same thing again and benefited thereby.’”

أَكَلْنَا عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَلَمَّا رُفِعَ الْخِوَانُ لَقَطَ مَا وَقَعَ مِنْهُ فَأَكَلَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَنَا إِنَّهُ يَنْفِي الْفَقْرَ وَ يُكْثِرُ الْوَلَدَ.

“Once we ate food with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). When the table-spread was collected, he (the Imam) picked up the pieces that had fallen on it and ate them then said to us, ‘This removes poverty and increases the number of children.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ وَجَدَ كِسْرَةً فَأَكَلَهَا كَانَتْ لَهُ حَسَنَةٌ وَ مَنْ وَجَدَهَا فِي قَذَرٍ فَغَسَلَهَا ثُمَّ رَفَعَهَا كَانَتْ لَهُ سَبْعُونَ حَسَنَةً.

“If one finds pieces of food and eats them it is one good deed, and if one finds them in unclean places, then washes them, then picks them up, he will have seventy good deeds recorded for him.’””

دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَلَى عَائِشَةَ فَرَأَى كِسْرَةً كَادَ أَنْ يَطَأَهَا فَأَخَذَهَا فَأَكَلَهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا حُمَيْرَاءُ أَكْرِمِي جِوَارَ نِعَمِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَيْكِ فَإِنَّهَا لَمْ تَنْفِرْ مِنْ قَوْمٍ فَكَادَتْ تَعُودُ إِلَيْهِمْ.

from ‘Amr ibn Jami’ who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, once entered ‘A’ishah’s home and saw pieces of food on which he was about to step. He (the Messenger of Allah) pick

شَكَا رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا يَلْقَى مِنْ وَجَعِ الْخَاصِرَةِ فَقَالَ مَا يَمْنَعُكَ مِنْ أَكْلِ مَا يَقَعُ مِنَ الْخِوَانِ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said that once a man complained before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), against his lower back pain. He (the Imam) said, ‘Why do you not eat pieces of food that fall on the table-spread/”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع‌ يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ أَكَلَ فِي مَنْزِلِهِ طَعَاماً فَسَقَطَ مِنْهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ فَلْيَتَنَاوَلْهُ وَ مَنْ أَكَلَ فِي الصَّحْرَاءِ أَوْ خَارِجاً فَلْيَتْرُكْهُ لِلطَّيْرِ وَ السَّبُعِ.

‘If one eats food in his house and pieces of food fall off, he must pick them up and eat; but if one eats food in the wilderness or outdoors he should leave such pieces for the birds and beasts.”’ (See also Ch. 48, h 15)

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ هُوَ يَأْكُلُ فَرَأَيْتُهُ يَتَتَبَّعُ مِثْلَ السِّمْسِمِ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ مَا سَقَطَ مِنَ الْخِوَانِ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ تَتَبَّعُ هَذَا فَقَالَ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ هَذَا رِزْقُكَ فَلَا تَدَعْهُ أَمَا إِنَّ فِيهِ شِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ.

“Once I was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and he was eating. I saw him searching for pieces of food fallen on the table-spread of the size of sesame seed. I then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, are you looking for such pieces?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘O ‘Abd Allah, it is your sustenance; do

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنِّي لَأَلْحَسُ أَصَابِعِي مِنَ الْأُدْمِ حَتَّى أَخَافَ أَنْ يَرَانِي خَادِمِي فَيَرَى أَنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنَ التَّجَشُّعِ‌[2] وَ لَيْسَ ذَلِكَ كَذَلِكَ إِنَّ قَوْماً أُفْرِغَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ النِّعْمَةُ وَ هُمْ أَهْلُ الثَّرْثَارِ[3] فَعَمَدُوا إِلَى مُخِّ الْحِنْطَةِ فَجَعَلُوهَا خُبْزاً هَجَاءً وَ جَعَلُوا يُنَجُّونَ‌[4] بِهِ صِبْيَانَهُمْ حَتَّى اجْتَمَعَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ جَبَلٌ عَظ

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘I lick food from my fingers but I fear my servants’ seeing me and their thinking that I am greedy. That is not true. A people upon whom bounties were poured owned a very large canal. They bleached the wheat for bread for food and used it to wipe their children with it until

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ أَكْرِمُوا الْخُبْزَ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ عَمِلَ فِيهِ مَا بَيْنَ الْعَرْشِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ وَ مَا فِيهَا مِنْ كَثِيرٍ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِمَنْ حَوْلَهُ أَ لَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ قَالُوا بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فِدَاكَ الْآبَاءُ وَ الْأُمَّهَاتُ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ كَانَ نَبِيٌّ فِيمَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ يُقَالُ لَهُ دَانِيَالُ وَ إِنَّهُ أَعْطَى صَاحِبَ مِعْبَرٍ رَغِيفاً لِكَيْ يَعْبُرَ بِهِ فَرَمَى صَا

“It is a narration of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), from the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. He (the Messenger of Allah) once said, ‘You must treat bread with reverence because from the throne to earth and what is in it, a large number of His c

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَا يُوضَعُ الرَّغِيفُ تَحْتَ الْقَصْعَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A loaf of bread must not be placed under the dish.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ أَكْرِمُوا الْخُبْزَ قِيلَ وَ مَا إِكْرَامُهُ قَالَ إِذَا وُضِعَ لَا يُنْتَظَرُ بِهِ غَيْرُهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must treat bread with reverence.’ It was asked, ‘What is treating it with reverence?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘When it is made available one must not wait for others.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَكْرِمُوا الْخُبْزَ فَقِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَ مَا إِكْرَامُهُ قَالَ إِذَا وُضِعَ لَمْ يُنْتَظَرْ بِهِ غَيْرُهُ وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ مِنْ كَرَامَتِهِ أَنْ لَا يُوطَأَ وَ لَا يُقْطَعَ‌[2].

‘You must treat bread with reverence.’ It was asked, ‘What is its reverence?’ He (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘When it is made available one must not wait for others.’ The Messenger of Allah has said that of treating it with reverence is not to step on it or cut it.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِيَّاكُمْ أَنْ تَشَمُّوا الْخُبْزَ[3] كَمَا تَشَمُّهُ السِّبَاعُ فَإِنَّ الْخُبْزَ مُبَارَكٌ أَرْسَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَهُ السَّمَاءَ مِدْرَاراً وَ لَهُ أَنْبَتَ اللَّهُ الْمَرْعَى وَ بِهِ صَلَّيْتُمْ وَ بِهِ صُمْتُمْ وَ بِهِ حَجَجْتُمْ بَيْتَ رَبِّكُمْ.

Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘You must never smell bread like the beasts do. Bread is blessed and Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has sent the sky with rain and because of it He