Chapter on Eating and Drinking From Gold and Silver Utensils and Other Etiquettes of Eating

"It is not proper to drink from vessels made of silver and gold."

"Do not eat from vessels made of gold or silver."

Hadith.4238 - Thalabah narrated from Burayd al-Ijli, from Abu Abdullah (as): "Imam (as) disliked drinking from silver vessels and from cups plated with silver. Imam (as) also disliked applying oil from a silver-plated container and using a comb that is silver-plated. However, if one has no choice but to drink from a silver-plated cup, he should turn his mouth away from the part that is plated with silver."

Hadith.4239 - The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said: "Vessels of gold and silver are the possessions of those who do not have certainty (in faith)."

"'Abbad al-Basri dislikes drinking from brass vessels." Imam (as) said: "Then ask him, is it gold or silver?"

a man should eat with his left hand, drink with it, or take anything with it.

"Drink with your hands, for they are among the best of your vessels."

Hadith.4243 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as), said: "Drinking water while standing during the day increases perspiration and strengthens the body."

Hadith.4244 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as), said: "Drinking water while standing at night causes yellow water (jaundice)."

Hadith.4245 - One of his companions asked him about drinking water in a single breath. Imam (as) said: "If the person handing you the water is your servant, then drink it in three breaths; but if he is free, then drink it in a single breath."

Hadith.4246 - In a narration by Hammad from Al-Halabi, Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as), said: "Drinking in three breaths is better than drinking in one breath." Imam (as) disliked that a person should resemble 'Al-Heem.' I asked: "What is Al-Heem?" Imam (as) replied: "It refers to camels." In another narration, it states: "Al-Heem refers to thirsty camels." And it is also narrated: "Al-Heem refers to those upon whom the name of Allah (swt) has not been mentioned."

"Do not eat while you are walking unless you are compelled to do so."

"I saw Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) eating while reclining. Then Imam (as) mentioned the Messenger of Allah (swt), peace and blessings be upon him and his family, and said: 'He never ate while reclining until he passed away.' "

"He saw Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as), eating while sitting cross-legged."

Messenger of Allah (swt), peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said: "When the table (for food) is set, four angels surround it. If the servant says 'In the name of Allah (swt),' the angels say to Satan, 'Be gone, O wicked one, for you have no authority over them.' But if they finish eating and say 'Praise be to Allah (swt),' the angels say, 'They are a people whom Allah (swt) has blessed, and they have expressed gratitude to their Lord (azj).' However, if they do not say 'In the name of Allah (swt),' the angels say to Satan, 'Come closer, O wicked one, and eat with them.' And if they do not praise Allah (swt) when they finish, the angels say, 'They are a people whom Allah (swt) has blessed, but they forgot their Lord (azj).'"

Hadith.4251 - The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said: "The owner of the provision will drink first among the people and performs ablution last among them."

I was eating with Abu Abdullah (as), and Imam (as) said: "O Sama'ah, eat with gratitude and praise, not with eating and silence."

'In the name of Allah (swt), on its beginning and its end.'"

Hadith.4254 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as), said: "I have never suffered from indigestion, and that is because I never began eating any food without saying: 'In the name of Allah (swt),' and I never finished eating without saying: 'All praise is due to Allah (swt).'"

Hadith.4255 - Imam (as) said: "Indeed, when the stomach is full, it becomes rebellious."

I entered upon Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as), in Medina, and there was a dining table before him, and Imam (as) was eating. I said to Imam (as): "What is the proper etiquette for this table?" Imam (as) replied: "When you place it, mention the name of Allah (swt), and when you remove it, praise Allah (swt). Clean up what is around the table, for this is its etiquette." He said: Then I turned, and there was a jug placed there. So I said to Imam (as), "What is the proper etiquette for the jug?" Imam (as) replied: "Drink from the side of its lip, and mention the name of Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic. When you lift it from your mouth, praise Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic. Avoid drinking from the spot near the handle, for that is the seat of Satan. This is its etiquette."

"Whatever is in the open area, leave it even if it is the leg of a sheep, and whatever is inside the house, collect it and pick it up."

Hadith.4258 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as), said: "Indeed, the Banu Umayyah begin their meals with vinegar and end them with salt. Whereas we begin our meals with salt and end them with vinegar."

Hadith.4259 - Commander of the Faithful (as) said: "Begin with salt at the start of the meal, for if people knew what is in salt, they would prefer it over the tried remedy."

I saw Abu Abdillah (as) using a toothpick, so I looked at him. Imam (as) said: "Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace be upon him and his family) used a toothpick, and it purifies the mouth."

Hadith.4261 - And in another narration: "Indeed, it is from the rights of the guest that a toothpick is prepared for him."

Hadith.4262 - Imam (as) said: "Whatever you roll around with your tongue and remove, swallow it, and whatever you remove with a toothpick, discard it."

"Performing ablution before and after eating removes poverty."

Hadith.4264 - The Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace be upon him and his family) said: "Whoever desires that the blessings of his house increase, let him perform ablution when food is brought."

Hadith.4265 - Imam (as) said: "Whoever washes his hands before and after eating will live in ease and will be protected from afflictions in his body."

"All praise is due to Allah (swt), Who fed us, gave us drink, sufficed us, supported us, sheltered us, blessed us, and bestowed His favor upon us. All praise is due to Allah (swt), Who feeds and is not fed."

Hadith.4267 - The Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace be upon him and his family) said: "What an excellent condiment vinegar is! A house that has vinegar will never be destitute."

Abu Abdillah (as) was asked about garlic, onions, and leeks. Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in eating them raw or cooked in pots, and there is no harm in using garlic as a remedy. However, if one does so, let him not go to the mosque."

I asked him about garlic. Imam (as) said: "The Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace be upon him and his family) only forbade it because of its smell. Prophet (sw) said: 'Whoever eats this foul plant should not come near our mosque.' However, as for one who eats it and does not go to the mosque, there is no harm."

Imam Hasan ibn Ali (as) said: "There are twelve qualities related to the dining table that every Muslim must know, four of them are obligatory, four are recommended practices (Sunnah), and four are etiquettes: As for the obligatory ones, they are: recognition (of Allah (swt)), contentment, mentioning the name of Allah (swt) (Bismillah), and gratitude. As for the recommended practices, they are: performing ablution before eating, sitting on the left side, eating with three fingers, and licking the fingers. As for the etiquettes, they are: eating from what is directly in front of you, taking small bites, chewing well, and avoiding looking at people's faces."

Hadith.4271 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "It is appropriate for an elderly person not to sleep unless his stomach is full of food, for it makes his sleep more restful and his breath more pleasant."

Hadith.4272 - The Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace be upon him and his family) said: "I am amazed at the one who abstains from food out of fear of illness, how does he not abstain from sins out of fear of the Fire?"