4.21. WATER

God says

….“Eat and drink the sustenance provided by God, and do not act wickedly on earth by spreading corruption.”  -- Q.2:60

The two seas are not alike ,*-- the one palatable, sweet, and pleasant to drink, the other, salty and bitter. -- Q.35:12
*i.e., God as caused them -- as if by invisible barrier-- to remain distinct in kind despite their continuous meeting and mingling in the oceans.

 

Prophet said

 “Do not breathe into a vessel when you drink” -- H: Bukhari and Muslim. Narrator: Abu Qatadah.

“Don’t drink in one breath like the drinking of a camel, but take in two or three turns and utter BISMILLAH (in the name of God) when you begin, and  ALHAMDULILLAH (all praise be to God) when you finish….” -- H: Tirmizi. Narrator: Ibn Abbas.
“…drink not in cups of gold and silver and take no food in the same (metals)” – H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.
Anas reported: (Goat’s milk mixed with water) was given to the Messenger of God in a cup who drank from it. Omer said: O Messenger of God! Give to Abu Bakr who was sitting on the left. (But) he gave it to the desert Arab sitting on his right. Afterwards he said, “The right hand is for the right side man, so take to the right hand side!” – H: Bukhari and Muslim.

4.19. MANNERS OF EATING

God says

Eat, then, of that over which God’s name has been pronounced, if you truly believe in His messages. And why should you not eat of that over which God’s name has been pronounced, seeing that He has so clearly spelled out to you what He has forbidden you [to eat]* unless you are compelled** [to do so]? But, behold, [it is precisely in such matters that] many people lead others astray by their own errant views, without [having any real] knowledge. Indeed, thy Sustainer is fully aware of those who transgress the bounds of what is right.    – Q.6:118,119
*See verse 5:3
** Last sentence of 5:3

eat not of that over which God’s name has not been pronounced: for this would be sinful conduct indeed….. Q.6:121

… eat and drink but waste not by excess, For God loves not the wasters. Q.7:31


Prophet said

“The blessing of food is in the wash before it and the wash after” -- H: Tirmizi and Abu Daud. N: Salman.
“If one forgets to remember God before eating, let him say: ‘In the name of God’ in it’s beginning and it’s end’ ” -- H: Tirmizi and Abu Daud. N: Bibi Ayesha.

“One should eat with the right hand and drink with the right hand.” -- H: Muslim. Narrator: Ibn Omar
Ka’ab reported that the messenger of God ate with three fingers -- Muslim.

“I do not Take meal in a leaning state” – Bukhari. N: Abu Juhaifah.

Abu Sayeed-al- Khodri reported that after finishing his meal the Prophet used to say “All praise is for One who fed us and gave us drink and created us Muslim” -- H:Tirmizi, Abu Daud and Ibn Majah.

“The thankful eater is like one who is patient while fasting.” -- H: Tirmizi. Narrator: Abu Huriarah.

“Having finished the meal one should lick his fingers (and clean his plate), because he does not know where in his food there is blessing” – H: Muslim. Narrator: Jabir.  

4.18. Dining

God says

O mankind! Eat of what is lawful and good on earth and follow not Satan’s footsteps: for, indeed, he is your avowed enemy. -- Q.2:168

He has forbidden to you only carrion, and blood, and the flesh of and swine, and that over which any name other than God has been invoked;* but if one is driven by necessity- neither coveting it nor exceeding his immediate need -- no sin shall be upon him: for, behold, God is much-forgiving, most gracious. -- Q.2:173
  *For a more enumeration of the forbidden kinds of flesh, see Q.5:3.


Prophet said

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet never spoke ill of any food -- Bukhari and Muslim.

“The believer eats in one gut and the unbeliever in seven.” -- H: Buhkari. N: Abu Hurairah. (Muslim from Abu Musa and  Ibn Omar.)

“The food of two men is sufficient for three and that of three is sufficient for four.” -- H: Buhkari and Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.

“The thankful eater is like the patient fasting man.” -- H: Tirmizi. N: Abu Hurairah

“ (When darkness of night falls,) cover the vessels and the drinking water jars, shut        up the doors, and out the light (of fire)…” -- H: Muslim.

4.17. MARRIAGE FEAST

God says
O you who have attained to faith! Do not deprive yourself of good things of life which God has made lawful to you, but commit no excess: for God loves not those who transgress the bounds of what is right. Thus partake of the lawful good things which God grants you as sustenance, and be conscious of God, in whom you believe Q.5:87

 

Prophet said

“The worst feast is the feast of marriage where the rich are invited and the poor are left out…” -- H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.

“Whoever does not attend to the invitation (of the married feast), disobeys God and His Apostle.” -- H:Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.

The Messenger of God prohibited from eating the food offered by two persons competing with each other for show (out of pride)! -- Abu Daud. N: Akramah from Ibn Abbas.
That the marriage should be made public is supported by the emphasis laid on giving marriage feats, and more so, on attending it.  However, making a show of one’s spending is strictly prohibited.  It is the responsibility of the affluent who have set the prohibited trend to also reverse it.

4.16. SIGHTING AND CONSENT

 
God says

…marry of the women, who seems good to you,…. Q.4:3


Prophet said

“A previously married women (widower or divorcee) will not be married until she gives her consent, nor a virgin be married till her consent is sought.” -- H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: AbuHurairah

“A grown up girl shall be asked permission about herself.  Her consent is in her silence; and if she declines, there will be no compulsion on her.” -- H: Tirmizi, Abu Daud and Nisai. N: Abu Hurairah.

Khansa’a-b-Khejan reported that she was a grown up women and her father gave her in marriage which she disliked.  Therefore, she came to the Holy Prophet. He annulled the marriage. —  H: Bukhari.

Mughaira-b-Sh’ubah reported: I sought a woman in marriage. The holy Prophet asked me: “Have you seen her?” I said that I had not. He said: “Then look at her…” – H: Ahmed, Tirmizi, Nisai and Ibn Majah.

4.15. CHOICE OF MARRIAGE PARTNER

God says

Do not marry women who ascribe divinity to anything beside God before they attain to [true] belief: for any believing bondwoman [of God] is certainly better than a women who ascribes divinity to aught beside God, even though she may please you greatly. And do not give your women in marriage to men who ascribe divinity to anything beside God before they attain to [true] belief: for any believing bondman [of God] is certainly better than a man who describes divinity to anything beside God, even though he may please you greatly. [Such as] these invite into the fire, whereas God invites into paradise and unto [the achievement of] forgiveness by His leave; and He makes clear His messages unto mankind, so that they might bear them in mind. -- Q.2:221

…. And [lawful to you are], in wedlock, chaste women from among those who believe [in this divine writ], and, in wedlock, chaste women from among those who have been vouchsafed revelation before your time --  provided that you give them their dowers,* taking them in honest wedlock, not in fornication, nor as secret love-companions**……Q.5:5  
*In Islam dower is to be paid by man to the woman.
Demanding dowry from woman is absolutely un-Islamic, although in certain Muslim societies the sinful practice is unfortunately prevalent.
**Whereas Muslim men are allowed to marry women from among the followers of another revealed religion, Muslim women may not marry non-Muslims the reason being that Islam enjoins reverence of all the prophets, while the followers of other religions reject some of them – e.g., the Prophet Muhammad or, as is the case with Jews, both Muhammad and Jesus. Thus, while a non-Muslim woman who marries a Muslim can be sure that – despite all doctrinal differences – the prophets of her faith will be mentioned with utmost respect in her Muslim environment, a Muslim woman who would marry a non-Muslim would always be exposed to an abuse of him whom she regards as God’s Apostle.

[In the nature of things,] corrupt women are for corrupt men and corrupt men, for corrupt women – just as good women are for good men, and good men, for good women…. Q.24:26

Prophet said

 “A woman is married for four things: for her property, or accomplishment, or beauty, or for her religion.  Select  one  having  religious  temperament.” – H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.

“When you are sought in marriage by a man with whom you are pleased for his religion and for his character, get yourself married to him” -- H: Tirmizi. Narrator: Abu Hurairah,

4.14. MARRIAGE (concluded)

God says

Verily those who [falsely, and without repentance,] accuse chaste women who may have been unthinkingly careless but have remained true to their faith*, shall be rejected [from God’s grace] in this world as well as in the life to come: and awesome suffering awaits them on the Day when their own tongues and hands and feet will bear witness against them by [recalling] all that they did! -- Q.24: 23,24 
*Lit., “chaste, unmindful [or “careless”] believing women”, I.e., virtuous woman who thoughtlessly expose themselves to situations on which a slanderous construction may be put.

And among His wonders is this: He creates mates for you of your own kind*, so that you might incline towards them, and He engenders love and tenderness between you: in this, behold, there are messages for people who think!
*I.e., “from among yourselves.” -- Q.30.21


Prophet said                

“Most blessed marriage is the one that gives the least trouble”*  -- H: Bukhari. N: Bibi Ayesha.
  *Much emphasis in Islam is on ease and simplicity; forbidden is excess and the show-off. Ostentatious style of the affluent causes distress to many who become its victim in matter of weddings, for instance. They try hard, somehow, to be pretentious even though they cannot afford it.

The affluent should seriously consider to go for high rewards, instead, and divert their resources in the service of the helpless, the needy. “One who strives for the widows and the poor is like one who struggles in the way of God”, said the Prophet, “I shall regard him as one who stands up (for prayer) without rest and as one who fasts without break” * – H: Bukhari, Muslim and other compilations. N: Abu Hurairah