Sahih Al Bukhari Hadith 5456: Licking Hands or Having Hands Licked by Someone Else
Hadith Text
It is narrated by Ibn `Abbas that the Prophet Mohammad said:
“When you eat, do not wipe your hands till you have licked it, or had it licked by somebody else.”
(Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 5456, Book 70th, Hadith 85 – Chapter Title: To lick and suck the fingers)
Meaning and Context
This Hadith emphasizes two main points regarding the proper way to finish a meal, particularly when eating with one’s hands:
- Utilizing the full blessing of the food (Barakah): The primary reason given in other similar narrations (like in Sahih Muslim) is that a person does not know in which part of the food the blessing ($Barakah$) lies. By licking the fingers and the dish (as mentioned in related Ahadith), one ensures they consume every particle, thus receiving the full blessing of the meal and avoiding waste.
- Respect for Food and Avoiding Waste: It is considered a sign of respect for the food provided by God to not waste any of it. Wiping the hands clean with a cloth or napkin before licking them would mean discarding food that may still have a blessing in it.
