Hadith 168

Sahih Muslim

Book 36: The Book of Drinks

Chapter 18

It is recommended to lick one's fingers and wipe the bowl, and to eat a piece of food that is dropped after removing any dirt on it. It is disliked to wipe one's hand before licking it, because of the possibility that the blessing of the food may be in that remaining part. The Sunnah is to eat with three fingers

باب اسْتِحْبَابِ لَعْقِ الأَصَابِعِ وَالْقَصْعَةِ وَأَكْلِ اللُّقْمَةِ السَّاقِطَةِ بَعْدَ مَسْحِ مَا يُصِيبُهَا مِنْ أَذًى وَكَرَاهَةِ مَسْحِ الْيَدِ قَبْلَ لَعْقِهَا

Sahih Muslim 2031a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، - قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرُونَ، حَدَّثَنَا - سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ، عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏ ‏.‏
"‏ إِذَا أَكَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ طَعَامًا فَلاَ يَمْسَحْ يَدَهُ حَتَّى يَلْعَقَهَا أَوْ يُلْعِقَهَا ‏"
Ibn 'Abbas reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him.) as saying:

When any one of you eats food he should not wipe his hand until he has licked it or has it licked*.