The Law of Eating Food for the Rest of Others in Islam

On the previous occasion, we have briefly reviewed some of the ways of eating the Prophet, one of which is to spend the remaining food on a plate or tray where you eat.


Spending the rest of the food actually has its own philosophy of appreciating the blessings given by Allah SWT. Islam forbids his people from wasting the sustenance obtained.

And therefore, as Muslims we must respect every drop of water and every seed of food that is available by not wasting the food or drink and using it for a positive purpose.

The rewards that we give to food or drink are actually a form of our gratitude for God's favor.

Therefore in one of the narrations of the Prophet sallallaahu ahu alaihi wasallam always licked the leftover food stuck to the fingers of his hand. From Jabir bin ‘Abdillah he said that the Prophet sallallaahu‘ alaihi wasallam said,

"Don't sweep his hand with a napkin before he licks his finger. Because he doesn't know which food brings blessings. "(Narrated by Muslim)

Ash Syaukani rahimahullah said,

"Licking your fingers (after eating) is something that is recommended (recommended). The reason, as mentioned at the end of the hadith, is that the person who eats does not know where the baraka is in the food. The food served to people who eat is truly blessing.

However, it is not known whether the baraka is in the food eaten or the food left on the finger or on the bowl or on the feed that falls. Therefore, it is fitting for someone to pay attention to this teaching so that when eating can reach blessing.

Understanding baraka at its origin is increasing and staying good and getting pleasure from it. "


Meanwhile, Imam An Nawawi rahimahullah said that it was permissible to wipe his hand with a napkin, but that according to the sunnah (teachings of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that is done after licking a finger.

Some of the arguments above refer to adab eating the food we take. What if we eat leftover food from other people?

Maybe we have all heard of the hadith which state that the remnants of the believers' food are medicine.

Some sources say that the hadith text actually states "The remnants of the believers' food heals." The scholars argue that the quality of the hadith is false.

The other hadith similar to the hadith above are the hadith narrated by Imam al-Daruquthni with sanad: Said bin Misykan - Ahmad bin Rauf - Suaid bin Nasr - Noah bin Abu Maryam - Ibn Juraij - Ata - Ibn Abbas - Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam. This hadith says,

"Among polite attitudes is someone drinks the rest of his brother's drink. And whoever drinks the rest of his land expecting the face of Allah, then he will elevate seventy levels, seventy of his mistakes will be erased, and it will be recorded for him seventy virtues. "(Ibn al-Jauzi, Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, Ibn Araq al-Kannani, al-Syaukani).

The problem is in the sanad there is a narrator named Nuh bin Abu Maryam known as a liar (Ibn al-Jauzi, Ibn Araq al-Kannani).

For this reason, the hadith is also a false hadith. The scholars argue that the hadith above has a different substance because it does not talk about medicine. The hadith only talks about the rest of the drink and politeness. So, it has nothing to do with the first hadith.

From the explanations of the scholars quoted from several sources it can be concluded that Islam does not regulate eating the remaining food of others.

The hadiths that are often heard among Muslims are actually false traditions so that they cannot be justified.

Thus a brief review of the law of eating leftovers from other people. Other articles that can be read include the law of disposing of food waste in Islam, the law denouncing food in Islam, the law of blowing food in Islam, the prohibition of blowing food in Islam, halal food, illicit drinks, liquor in Islam, due to eating illicit food and food unlawful according to Islam. May be useful. thanks.