سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ اللَّحْمِ الَّذِي يَكُونُ فِي الْأَسْنَانِ فَقَالَ أَمَّا مَا كَانَ فِي مُقَدَّمِ الْفَمِ فَكُلْهُ وَ مَا كَانَ فِي الْأَضْرَاسِ فَاطْرَحْهُ.
“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the meat that remains between the teeth. He (the Imam) said, ’What is between the front teeth you can eat; but what is between the back teeth you must throw it away.’”
أَمَّا مَا يَكُونُ عَلَى اللِّثَةِ فَكُلْهُ وَ ازْدَرِدْهُ[2] وَ مَا كَانَ بَيْنَ الْأَسْنَانِ فَارْمِ بِهِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘What is in gingival (front gums) swallow it and what is between the other teeth throw it away.’”
تَغَدَّى عِنْدِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ أُتِيَ بِالْخِلَالِ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا حَدُّ هَذَا الْخِلَالِ فَقَالَ يَا فَضْلُ كُلُّ مَا بَقِيَ فِي فَمِكَ فَمَا أَدَرْتَ عَلَيْهِ لِسَانَكَ فَكُلْهُ وَ مَا اسْتَكَنَّ فَأَخْرِجْهُ بِالْخِلَالِ فَأَنْتَ فِيهِ بِالْخِيَارِ إِنْ شِئْتَ أَكَلْتَهُ وَ إِنْ شِئْتَ طَرَحْتَهُ.
“Once, abu al-Hassan (a.s.), had lunch with me. When lunch was complete, toothpicks were brought and I asked, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, what are the limits of toothpicks?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘O Fadl, whatever remains in your mouth when you turn your tongue on it you can eat it; but wh
قَالَ: لَا يَزْدَرِدَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ مَا يَتَخَلَّلُ بِهِ فَإِنَّهُ يَكُونُ مِنْهُ الدُّبَيْلَةُ[1].
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Do not take light what you use as a toothpick, it can cause a boil in one’s belly (that may cause one’s death).”’