Dining Ethics
1. Start eating with the name of Allah (Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem) and conclude with praising and thanking Allah (Al-Hamdu Lillahi Rabbil-Aalameen). Eat from the nearest side of the dish to you and use your right hand, because the left hand is generally used for cleaning dirt. Bukhari and Muslim narrated on the authority of 'Umar Ibn Abi Salamah, may Allah be pleased with them, that the Holy Prophet peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him said which meaning of is translated as: "Mention the name of Allah, eat with your right hand and eat from the nearest side of the dish."
2. Never complain or disapprove of food whatsoever. Bukhari and Muslim narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that: "The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him has never found fault with any food. If he likes it, he would eat it, if not he would just leave it."
3. Avoid eating or drinking in excess quantity in the light of the Qur'anic words which meaning of is translated as: "And eat and drink but do not spendthrift."And the Prophet's peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, words which meaning of is translated as: "The son of Adam (man) has never filled a vessel worse than his stomach. If there is no way out, let there be a third for his meal, another for his drink and another for his breath." (Narrated by Ahmad).
4. Never breathe or blow into vessels. According to Ibn Abbas the Prophet peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him, said which meaning of is translated as: "Forbade breathing or blowing into the dish." (Al Tirmidhi).
5. Eat with others, not alone, since Allah's Messenger peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said which meaning of is translated as: "Gather around your food so that it may be blessed." (Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi).
6. If you are invited to a meal and you take somebody with you, you should seek permission for him. According to Abu Mas'ud Al-Badri, may Allah be pleased with him, a man invited Allah's Prophet peace be upon him, to a meal along with four other people. A man followed the Prophet. At the door, the Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to the host which meaning of is translated as: "This man has come with us: If you'd permit, he will come in; if not he will go back." The host said: I give him my permission, O Allah's Messenger." (Bukhari & Muslim).
A Lesson from Disabled People
Once, a visitor was being shown around a leper colony in India. The colony was built to provide a shelter for those people who were poor and had various physical disabilities. At noon a gong (a metal disk that produces a sound when hit with a hammer) sounded to gather the inhabitants for the midday meal. People came from all parts of the compound to the dining hall. Suddenly, everyone started laughing at seeing two young men, one riding on the other's back, pretending to be a horse and a rider. They were having lots of fun. As the visitor watched, he was told that the man who carried his friend was blind, and the man being carried was lame (who couldn't walk). The one who couldn't see used his feet; the one who couldn't walk used his eyes. Together they helped each other and reached their destination.