Manners of Drinking

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Emulating the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, is the most perfect and preferable way of eating and drinking.

It is recommended when drinking to observe the following manners.

(1) To hold the cup in the right hand.

Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi related that Hafsa, Allah be pleased with her, said

Tthe Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, used his right hand for eating and drinking. He used his left for other things [such as personal hygiene].

(2) To begin with the name of Allah (basmala).

(3) To drink intending to obey the Divine command, “Eat and drink.” (Qur’an, 7:31)

(4) To drink in three sips, not gulps.

Abdullah Ibn Abbas, Allah be pleased with father and son, reported that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said

Do not drink like a camel. Drink twice or thrice. Say the name of Allah before drinking. Thank Allah after finishing.

(6) To not breath over the cup; rather, one moves it to the side and says, “Alhamdulillah”, then returns it to drink more and says, “Bismillah.”

The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, forbade breathing in container or blowing in it.

(7) To say at the end, “All praise is for Allah who made it sweet and pleasant by His mercy and did not make it burning and salty by our sins.”

(8) If it is milk one says, “O Allah, bless us in it and increase us in it.”

It is reported that the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said,

There is nothing that takes the place of food and drink except milk.

(9) To not refuse Zamzam water when offered.

(10) If the cup is passed around a group, it should be passed to the right.

(11) It is superior to drink sitting, although there is no harm in drinking standing, except for
leftover wudu water and zamzam water which are drunk standing, facing the Qiblah.

(12) To avoid drinking while walking. This is disliked except for travelers.

(13) To avoid drinking in a way to resemble drinking alcohol. This is impermissible.

(14) To avoid drinking water used to lift ritual impurity. This is disliked.

(15) To avoid drinking the leftover water of a member of the opposite sex who is not one’s wife or unmarriageable kin. This is impermissible.

(16) To avoid drinking water after eating fatty food

(17) To avoid drinking water while standing during the night

(18) To avoid drinking water with one's left hand

(19) To avoid drinking water from the side of a container which is cracked or chipped off, or from the side of its handle.

(20) To not exhale in your glass. This will irritate others and will smudge the glass or the cup. Abdullah ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade exhaling in a glass or puffing into it.

(21) To not drinking directly from the jug or the container. Beside being unhygienic behavior, others may want to drink after you who could be irritated. Abu Hurayra narrated that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade drinking directly from the mouth of the sheepskin or the flask.

It is reported from Abu-Hurayra that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

The first question asked to a believer at the Day of Resurrection concerning the delights of this world is: Have not we preserved your body and quenched your thirst with cold water?! (Tirmidhi)

May Allah give you tawfiq. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam