Sunnats of Eating

1) Spread out a cloth on the floor (to lay the food on).

2) Wash both hands up to the wrists.

3) Recite Bismillah aloud.

4) Eat with the right hand.

5) The one who is most pious or senior from those eating should be made to commence eating first.

6) If only one type of food is in the utensil, eat from the side in front of you.

7) If a morsel falls, pick it up, clean it and eat it.

8) Do not lean and eat.

9) Do not find fault with food.

10) Remove the shoes while eating.

11) When eating, sit with either both knees raised and the posterior on the ground, or by raising one knee and keeping the other on the ground. A third posture is to sit with both knees on the ground (as in the position of Qa’dah) and lean forward to eat.

12) Clean the plate and other eating utensils thoroughly after eating. The utensils will then make Dua for one’s forgiveness.

13) To lick the fingers after eating.

…To be continued