The Blessing of Eating Collectively

Imām Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn

Nowadays it has become archaic for Muslims to eat collectively from one platter. It is seen as modern to have one’s own plate, even if the food is originally served on a single large platter. The abandonment of this blessing and sunnah is but a sign of the times (widespread ignorance).

Articles, Community, Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn, Society & Culture

Jul 5, 2007

Al-Wahshiyyee Ibn Harb (raḍī Allāhu ʿanhu) related that some of the Companions of Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ said, ‘O Messenger of Allāh! We eat, but we do not become satisfied.’ So he said to them: “Perhaps you eat separately?” So they replied: ‘Yes.’ So he said: “Eat your food collectively, mention the Name of Allāh upon it, then there will be blessings for you in it.”¹

Shaykh Ibn al-ʿUthaymīn said: “This indicates that it is essential to eat collectively from a single plate. So if there are five or ten people, they should eat collectively from a single dish, depending upon the situation. Indeed, doing so is a cause for barakah (blessings) to descend, whilst eating separately is a cause for barakah to depart.”²

Endnotes:
[1] Ḥasan: Related by Abū Dāwūd (no. 3764). It was authenticated by al-Ḥāfiẓ al-ʿIrāqee in his Takhreejul-Iḥyā‘ (no. 214).
[2] Sharḥ Rīyaḍus-al-Ṣāliḥīn (7/231) of Ibn al-ʿUthaymīn

Published: July 5, 2007

Edited: August 15, 2022