748/1 - Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When anyone of you eats food, let him not wipe his hand until he licks it or has it licked.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
749/2 - Ka‘b ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “I saw the Messenger of Allah eat with three fingers, and when he finished eating, he would lick them.” [Narrated by Muslim]
750/3 - Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) commanded licking the fingers and the plate and said: “You do not know where the blessing lies in your food.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) We are urged to eat the remnants of food on our fingers. This is part of the Prophet’s guidance, though it is now mostly abandoned. Fortunate are those who follow the Sunnah and prompt others to do the same, with knowledge and forbearance.
2) All goodness lies in following the Shariah and its etiquettes. As a result, one attains unlimited blessings. Allah Almighty says: {And if you obey him, you will be guided.}
751/4 - He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If anyone of you drops a morsel, he should pick it up, remove anything bad on it, and eat it and not leave it for the devil, nor should he wipe his hand with the napkin until he has licked his fingers, for he does not know in what portion of his food the blessing lies.” [Narrated by Muslim]
752/5 - He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Satan is present with one of you in everything he does; he is present even when he eats food; so if anyone of you drops a morsel, he should pick it up, remove anything bad on it, and eat it and not leave it for the devil; and when he finishes, he should lick his fingers, for he does not know in what portion of his food the blessing lies.” [Narrated by Muslim]
753/6 - Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Whenever the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) ate food, he would lick his three fingers; and he said: “If one of you drops a morsel, he should pick it up, remove anything bad on it, and eat it and not leave it for the devil.” And he ordered us to wipe the bowl, and said: “You do not know in which portion of your food the blessing lies.” [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) taught his Ummah the proper etiquette to follow when some food falls on the ground. This indicates that the Islamic teachings may sometimes be at odds with people’s inclinations, views, and habits.
2) This etiquette irritates the devil, as it deprives him of the fallen morsel.
3) We are encouraged to preserve the blessings we have, no matter how insignificant they may seem in the sight of people.
754/7 - Sa‘īd ibn al-Hārith related that he asked Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) about ablution after eating food cooked on fire, and he said: “Nay; during the Prophet’s life-time, we would not find such food except rarely. So, if we found it, we had no napkins except our palms, forearms, and feet. Then we would pray without making (a new) ablution.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
1) The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) led ascetic lives, rarely eating delicious food cooked on fire.
2) There is nothing wrong with using napkins after licking one’s fingers. This does not contradict the Companions’ practice, for they did not have napkins at the time.
A successful preacher makes people love to follow the Prophet’s Sunnah without opposing some useful practices they may currently follow. Indeed, the religion of Allah Almighty is comprehensive and suitable for every time and place.