Riyad as-Salihin, 164

Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded the licking of fingers (after eating) and the cleaning of the dish, saying: "You do not know in what portion the Blessing (of Allah) lies". [Muslim]. In another narration, Jabir said: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When a morsel of any of you falls down, you should pick it up and remove any dirt or dust on it and then eat it; and don't leave it for Satan; and do not wipe your hand with the towel until you have licked your fingers, for you do not know in what portion of the food the Barakah* (of Allah) lies". * Barakah is the abundance of goodness and its continuity.

التاسع‏:‏ عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، أمر بلعق الأصابع والصحفة وقال‏:‏ ‏"‏إنكم لا تدرون في أيها البركة‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏ وفي رواية له‏:‏ ‏"‏ إذا وقعت لقمة أحدكم ‏.‏ فليأخذها فليمط ماكان بها من أذى، وليأكلها، ولا يدعها للشيطان، ولا يمسح يده بالمنديل حتى يلعق أصابعه، فإنه لا يدري في أي طعامه البركة‏"‏‏.‏ وفي رواية له‏:‏ ‏"‏إن الشيطان يحضر أحدكم عند كل شيء من شأنه حتى يحضره عند طعامه، فإذا سقطت من أحدكم اللقمة فليمط ما كان بها من أذى ، فليأكلها، ولا يدعها للشيطان‏"‏‏.‏

References1 variant

In-Book Reference: Introduction, Hadith 164

Sharh · explanationclick to expand

Guidance from the Hadith: 1) It instructs the obligation of following the Prophetic guidance in everything regardless of learning or failing to learn the rationale behind it. 2) Following the Prophetic manner in eating and drinking involves guidance, which includes compliance with the command of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), modesty, and depriving the devil from sharing our food and drink. 3) Discarding the food if it fell on the floor implies a type of arrogance and contravenes the guidance of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). Rather, it is recommended to clean the dirt on the bite that fell and eat it.

Related hadiths6