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Should the Muslim Criticise Food?

A ḥadīth collected by Imām Muslim showing that the best of examples among the creation, the Prophet (ﷺ), never criticized food.

قال الإمامُ مسلمٌ في صحيحِهِ، في كتابِ الأَشْرِبَةِ، بابٌ لا يَعِيبُ الطَّعامَ:

Imām Muslim collected the following ḥadīth in his Ṣaḥīḥ, in the Book of Drinks, under the chapter entitled: (The Believer) Does Not Criticize Food:

حدَّثنا يحيى بنُ يحيى، وزُهَيْرُ بنُ حَرْبٍ، وإسحاقُ بنُ إبراهيمَ _ قال زُهَيْرٌ: حدَّثنا، وقال الآخرانِ: _ أخبرنا جَرِيرٌ، عَنِ الأعمشِ، عن أبي حازمٍ، عن أبي هُرَيْرَةَ، قال: ما عاب رسولُ اللهِ _ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّم _ طعامًا قطُّ، كان إذا اشتهى شيئًا أكله، وإنْ كَرِهَهُ تركه

(#2064) Abū Hurayrah said, “The Messenger of Allāh (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) never criticized food ever. If he wanted something, he would eat it. If he disliked it, he would leave it.”

وفي رِوَايَةٍ: ما رأيتُ رسولَ الله _ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّم _ عاب طعامًا قَطُّ، كان إذا اشتهاه أَكَلَهُ، وإنْ لَمْ يَشْتَهِهِ سَكَتَ

In another narration he said, “I never saw the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) criticize food ever. If he wanted it, he would eat it. If he did not want it, he would remain silent.”

Published: October 24, 2007
Edited: July 31, 2024