Miftah-ul-Janna (Booklet for way to Paradise)

without performing the farzes, Allâhu ta’âlâ will not like him or
accept what he has done. For the same matter, if a Muslim does
not perform namâz or pay zakât or pay the rights of his parents or
wife or children, Allâhu ta’âlâ will not like or accept his pious
deeds such as alms and/or charities and/or donations and/or
mosque-buildings and/or monetary supports and/or washing the
hands before and after meals and/or performing ’Umra. As is seen,
everyone should perform the ewâmir-i-teklîfiyya in the order of
importance stated above. On the other hand, supposing a person
performs something of lesser importance without performing the
deeds in the upper class and if his doing so causes him, say, to omit
an act that is farz or to commit a harâm; he will not earn any
thawâb, that is true, but then he should not let himself do without
that good deed, either. It is written in the book of Tafsîr entitled
Rûh-ul-beyân, in the final part of its sixth chapter, that with the
barakat of continuously performing that good deed, it is hoped,
Allâhu ta’âlâ may mercifully bless him with performing the
commandments in an upper class.]
There are four farzes in eating:
1– When eating and drinking, to know that satisfaction and
satiation is granted by Allâhu ’adhîm-ush-shân.
2– To eat food that is halâl.
3– To spend the entire energy that you racquire from that food
doing your duties as a slave of Allâhu ta’âlâ.
4– To be contented with what you have obtained.
When starting to eat you should make your niyyat to acquire
energy to worship Allâhu ta’âlâ, to do things useful to the slaves of
Allâhu ta’âlâ, and to make the religion of Allâhu ta’âlâ, the way to
everlasting happiness and peace, reach all people. It is permissible
to eat bareheaded.
Mustahabs in eating: To set a (wooden) tray on the floor (in lieu
of a dining table); to wear clean clothes as you sit for the meal; to
sit on your knees; to have washed your hands and mouth before the
meal; to make the Basmala, (i.e. to say, “Bismillah-er-Rahmân-er-
Rahîm,”) when starting to eat; to taste a little salt before starting to
eat; to eat bread made of barley flour; to break the bread manually;
not to wast the crumbs of bread; to eat from the side (of the dish)
nearest to you; to consume (a little) vinegar; to eat the bread in
small morsels; to chew the food well; to eat with your three fingers;
to wipe inside the dish with your finger; to lick your fingers three
times; to make hamd after the meal; to use a toothpick.
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