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
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِذَا أُوتِيتُمْ بِالْخُبْزِ وَ اللَّحْمِ فَابْدَءُوا بِالْخُبْزِ فَسُدُّوا بِهِ خِلَالَ الْجُوعِ ثُمَّ كُلُوا اللَّحْمَ.
7. Through the same chain of narrators as that of the previous Hadith the following is narrated: “He (the Imam) has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘When bread and meat is brought for you, eat bread first to stop the emptiness of hunger, then eat the meat.’”
قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص صَغِّرُوا رُغْفَانَكُمْ فَإِنَّ مَعَ كُلِّ رَغِيفٍ بَرَكَةً وَ قَالَ يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ يَقْطِينٍ رَأَيْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ يَعْنِي الرِّضَا ع يَكْسِرُ الرَّغِيفَ إِلَى فَوْقُ.
‘Make your bread of small loaves because there is blessing with each loaf.’ Ya‘qub ibn Yaqtin has said, ‘I saw abu al-Hassan (a.s.), break the bread upward.’”
كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ أُدْمٌ قَطَعَ الْخُبْزَ بِالسِّكِّينِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when ’Amir al-Mu’minin did not have curry; he would cut the bread with a knife.’”
أَدْنَى الْأُدْمِ قَطْعُ الْخُبْزِ بِالسِّكِّينِ[1].
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the least of curry is to cut the bread with a knife.’”
تَغَدَّى عِنْدِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع فَجِيءَ بِقَصْعَةٍ وَ تَحْتَهَا خُبْزٌ فَقَالَ أَكْرِمُوا الْخُبْزَ أَنْ لَا يَكُونَ تَحْتَهَا وَ قَالَ لِي مُرِ الْغُلَامَ أَنْ يُخْرِجَ الرَّغِيفَ مِنْ تَحْتِ الْقَصْعَةِ.
“I once had lunch with abu al-Hassan (a.s.), and the dish was brought with bread underneath the dish. He (the Imam) said, ‘You must revere bread and do not allow it to be placed under the dish.’ He (the Imam) then said to me to command the slave to take the bread from underneath the dish.”’
أَنَّهُ كَرِهَ أَنْ يُوضَعَ الرَّغِيفُ تَحْتَ الْقَصْعَةِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), disliked placing of the loaf of bread under the dish.’”
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لَا تَقْطَعُوا الْخُبْزَ بِالسِّكِّينِ وَ لَكِنِ اكْسِرُوهُ بِالْيَدِ وَ لْيُكْسَرْ لَكُمْ خَالِفُوا الْعَجَمَ[2].
‘Do not cut bread with knife but break it with your hand and others must break it for you. You must do the opposite of al-‘Ajam (non- Arabs).”’
لَا تَقْطَعُوا الْخُبْزَ بِالسِّكِّينِ وَ لَكِنِ اكْسِرُوهُ بِالْيَدِ وَ خَالِفُوا الْعَجَمَ.
“Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), has said, ‘Do not cut bread with knife, instead break it with the hands and do the opposite of al-Ajam (non- Arabs).”’
فَضْلُ خُبْزِ الشَّعِيرِ عَلَى الْبُرِّ كَفَضْلِنَا عَلَى النَّاسِ وَ مَا مِنْ نَبِيٍّ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ دَعَا لِأَكْلِ الشَّعِيرِ وَ بَارَكَ عَلَيْهِ وَ مَا دَخَلَ جَوْفاً إِلَّا وَ أَخْرَجَ كُلَّ دَاءٍ فِيهِ وَ هُوَ قُوتُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَ طَعَامُ الْأَبْرَارِ أَبَى اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَنْ يَجْعَلَ قُوتَ أَنْبِيَائِهِ إِلَّا شَعِيراً.
The excellence of barley bread over wheat bread is like our excellence over the people. There had not been any Prophet, who did not ask to eat barley bread and blessed it. In whichever stomach it enters, it removes every illness thereof. It is the sustenance of the Prophets and the food of the virtuous ones. Allah, mos
مَا دَخَلَ جَوْفَ الْمَسْلُولِ شَيْءٌ أَنْفَعُ لَهُ مِنْ خُبْزِ الْأَرُزِّ.
“Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), has said, ‘Nothing more useful enters the stomach of one suffering from Tuberculosis than bread of rice.’”
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَطْعِمُوا الْمَبْطُونَ خُبْزَ الْأَرُزِّ فَمَا دَخَلَ جَوْفَ الْمَبْطُونِ شَيْءٌ أَنْفَعُ مِنْهُ أَمَا إِنَّهُ يَدْبُغُ الْمَعِدَةَ وَ يَسُلُّ الدَّاءَ سَلًّا[1].
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Feed bread of rice to a person suffering from diarrhea; nothing else is more useful for such a sufferer than this, it also tans (treats) the stomach and dispels the pain sufficiently.’”
لَيْسَ يَبْقَى فِي الْجَوْفِ مِنْ غُدْوَةٍ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ إِلَّا خُبْزُ الْأَرُزِّ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘No other food from lunch remains inside until night except bread of rice.’”
نِعْمَ الْقُوتُ السَّوِيقُ إِنْ كُنْتَ جَائِعاً أَمْسَكَ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ شَبْعَاناً [شَبْعَانَ] هَضَمَ طَعَامَكَ.
sawiq is a very good food. If you are hungry, it holds you. If you are full it digests your food.”’
ذُكِرَ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع السَّوِيقُ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا عُمِلَ بِالْوَحْيِ.
sawiq was mentioned before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and he (the Imam) said, ‘It was prepared by the instruction of divine revelation.’”