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

Aban narrated from Muhammad ibn Muslim, from Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام, who said: "Do not eat from vessels made of gold or silver."

Thalabah narrated from Burayd al-Ijli, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: "Imam عليه السلام disliked drinking from silver vessels and from cups plated with silver. Imam عليه السلام 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."

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)."

Yunus bin Yaqub narrated from his brother Yusuf: Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, once asked for water, and a vessel made of brass containing water was brought to him. One of those sitting with him said: "'Abbad al-Basri dislikes drinking from brass vessels." Imam عليه السلام said: "Then ask him, is it gold or silver?"

It is narrated from Jarrah Al-Mada'ini: Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, disliked that a man should eat with his left hand, drink with it, or take anything with it.

It is narrated by Abdullah bin Maymoon, from Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام from his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام: The companions of the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace be upon him and his family, were drinking water in large gulps at Tabuk. So the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace be upon him and his family, said: "Drink with your hands, for they are among the best of your vessels."

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام, said: "Drinking water while standing during the day increases perspiration and strengthens the body."

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام, said: "Drinking water while standing at night causes yellow water (jaundice)."

One of his companions asked him about drinking water in a single breath. Imam عليه السلام 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."

In a narration by Hammad from Al-Halabi, Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام, said: "Drinking in three breaths is better than drinking in one breath." Imam عليه السلام disliked that a person should resemble 'Al-Heem.' I asked: "What is Al-Heem?" Imam عليه السلام 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 سبحانه وتعالى has not been mentioned."

Abdullah ibn Al-Mughirah narrated from Abdullah ibn Sinan, who reported from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام, that he said: "Do not eat while you are walking unless you are compelled to do so."

It is narrated from Umar ibn Abi Shu'bah who said: "I saw Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام eating while reclining. Then Imam عليه السلام mentioned the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, and said: 'He never ate while reclining until he passed away.' "

It is narrated from Hammad ibn Uthman, from Umar ibn Abi Shu'bah, from Abi Shu'bah: "He saw Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام, eating while sitting cross-legged."

It is narrated by Isma'il ibn Abi Ziyad, from Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام that the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, 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 سبحانه وتعالى,' 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 سبحانه وتعالى,' the angels say, 'They are a people whom Allah سبحانه وتعالى has blessed, and they have expressed gratitude to their Lord عز وجل.' However, if they do not say 'In the name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى,' the angels say to Satan, 'Come closer, O wicked one, and eat with them.' And if they do not praise Allah سبحانه وتعالى when they finish, the angels say, 'They are a people whom Allah سبحانه وتعالى has blessed, but they forgot their Lord عز وجل.'"

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."

Sama'ah bin Mehran narrated: I was eating with Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, and Imam عليه السلام said: "O Sama'ah, eat with gratitude and praise, not with eating and silence."

Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon him, said: "I guarantee that whoever mentions the name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى upon his food will not suffer any harm from it." Then Ibn al-Kawwa' said: "O Commander of the Faithful, I ate food last night, mentioned the name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى upon it, and yet it caused me discomfort." Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon him, replied: "You ate different types of food, but you mentioned the name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى on some and did not mention it on others, O foolish one!" It is also narrated: "Whoever forgets to mention the name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى on each type of food should say: 'In the name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, on its beginning and its end.'"

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام, said: "I have never suffered from indigestion, and that is because I never began eating any food without saying: 'In the name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى,' and I never finished eating without saying: 'All praise is due to Allah سبحانه وتعالى.'"

Imam عليه السلام said: "Indeed, when the stomach is full, it becomes rebellious."

Amr ibn Qays al-Masir narrated: I entered upon Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام, in Medina, and there was a dining table before him, and Imam عليه السلام was eating. I said to Imam عليه السلام: "What is the proper etiquette for this table?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "When you place it, mention the name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, and when you remove it, praise Allah سبحانه وتعالى. 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 عليه السلام, "What is the proper etiquette for the jug?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "Drink from the side of its lip, and mention the name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Almighty and Majestic. When you lift it from your mouth, praise Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Almighty and Majestic. Avoid drinking from the spot near the handle, for that is the seat of Satan. This is its etiquette."

It is narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Walid al-Kirmani: I ate in the presence of Abu Ja'far al-Thani Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Jawad عليه السلام. When I finished and the dining mat was lifted, a servant went to collect the crumbs of food that had fallen. Imam عليه السلام said to him: "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."

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام, 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."

Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام 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."

Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Wahb ibn Abd Rabbih who said: I saw Abu Abdillah عليه السلام using a toothpick, so I looked at him. Imam عليه السلام said: "Indeed, the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace be upon him and his family) used a toothpick, and it purifies the mouth."

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

Imam عليه السلام said: "Whatever you roll around with your tongue and remove, swallow it, and whatever you remove with a toothpick, discard it."

Safwan al-Jammal narrated from Abi Ghurrah al-Khurasani who said that Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: "Performing ablution before and after eating removes poverty."

The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (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."

Imam عليه السلام said: "Whoever washes his hands before and after eating will live in ease and will be protected from afflictions in his body."

It is narrated from Abu Hamzah al-Thumali, from Imam Ali ibn Al-Hussain عليه السلام, that whenever he ate, Imam عليه السلام would say: "All praise is due to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, 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 سبحانه وتعالى, Who feeds and is not fed."

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

Shu'ayb narrated from Abu Basir who said: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام was asked about garlic, onions, and leeks. Imam عليه السلام 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."

Umar ibn Udhaynah narrated from Muhammad ibn Muslim, from Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام, who said: I asked him about garlic. Imam عليه السلام said: "The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace be upon him and his family) only forbade it because of its smell. Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم 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."

Ibrahim al-Karkhi narrated from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, from his fathers (peace be upon them), who said: Imam Hasan ibn Ali عليه السلام 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 سبحانه وتعالى), contentment, mentioning the name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (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."

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام 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."

The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (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?"