Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Is it Sunnath to eat in the same plate..can u plz reply me with proper explanation...

 

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Answer:

 

Is it sunnah to eat from one plate

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 24 Surah Noor verses 61:

61      it is no fault in the blind, nor in one born lame, nor in one afflicted with illness, nor in yourselves that ye should eat in your own houses, or those of your fathers, or your mothers, or your brothers, or your sisters, or your father's brothers, or your father's sisters, or your mother's brothers, or your mother's sisters, or in houses of which the keys are in your possession, or in the house of a sincere friend of yours: there is no blame on you whether ye eat in company or separately.  But if ye enter houses salute each other a greeting or blessing and purity as from Allah.  Thus does Allah make clear the Signs to you: that ye may understand.

 

Although there is allowance and permission for the believers in Shariah for both, eating in company or separately…..the general practice and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) when consuming food in company was to eat from one common plate or platter.

 

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 4233        Narrated by Ikrash ibn Dhu'ayb

We were brought a platter with a large amount of ‘tharid’ and slices of boneless meat and I plunged in my hand in all directions, but Allah's Messenger (saws) ate what was in front of him.  He (saws) seized my right hand with his left and said, "Eat from one place, Ikrash, for it is all one kind of food." Afterwards we were brought a plate containing various kinds of dates and I began to eat what was in front of me while the hand of Allah's Messenger (saws) went round on the plate.  He (saws) then said, "Eat where you wish, Ikrash, for it is not all one kind."

 

When consuming food in company, it would indeed be considered a Sunnah for the believers to eat from one common plate or platter…..but if for any reason whatsoever, the believers choose to take some food from the common plate onto their individual plates, there is absolutely no harm and no sin.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan