757/1 - Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to breathe three times while drinking.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
This means he would breathe outside the vessel.
758/2 - Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Do not drink in a single gulp like a camel; rather, drink in two or three (gulps). Mention the name of Allah upon drinking, and praise Him after drinking.” [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; he classified it as sound] [3]
759/3 - Abu Qatādah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) forbade breathing into the vessel.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
Meaning in the same vessel (one is drinking from).
1) The Sunnah in drinking is that one drinks three times from the vessel, for the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “It is more wholesome, thirst-quenching, and healthier.” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd]
2) The Shariah calls for maintaining physical health. If water is drunk all at once, it may cause some harm. Yet, if it is drunk some at a time, this is better in quenching one’s thirst and further from causing harm.
760/4 - Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was brought milk mixed with water. A Bedouin was sitting on his right and Abu Bakr was sitting on his left. He drank and then gave it to the Bedouin and said: “The one on the right (first) and then the next on the right.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
761/5 - Sahl ibn Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was given a drink, and he drank from it. There was a boy on his right and old men on his left. He said to the boy: “Do you allow me to give it to these?” The boy said: “No, by Allah, O Messenger of Allah. I will not prefer anyone over myself with my share from you.” So, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) put it in his hand. [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
The boy was Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him).
1) The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was keen to begin with the right in all his affairs, as reported by ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): “He used to prefer the right side in everything.”
2) The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) gave precedence to the less meritorious over the more meritorious, as Abu Bakr was undoubtedly more meritorious than the Bedouin. Yet, beginning with the right is the Sunnah. A fortunate person would make the Prophet’s Sunnah govern all his life and be the motive behind his speech, actions, and conditions.
There is a common saying among the scholars that “there should be no altruism in acts of piety”, as previously quoted from Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy upon him). However, some verifying scholars maintained that such altruism is permissible.
In his book "Zād al-Ma‘ād Fi Hady Khayr al-‘Ibād", the erudite scholar Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy upon him), in the course of listing the benefits of the battle of Taif, said: “These include the complete love felt by Abu Bakr for him... Hence, he appealed to Al-Mughīrah to let him convey to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) the good news that the delegation of Taif was coming... This indicates that it is permissible for a man to ask his brother to prefer him with regard to some pious act, and it is permissible for the other person to do so. Incorrect is the scholarly view declaring such preference impermissible. ‘Ā’ishah gave precedence to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb as she allowed him to be buried in her house beside the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). He asked her for that... So, if someone asks someone else to give precedence to him and let him stand in the first row, this request is not disliked, nor is granting it. If we ponder the Companions’ life, we will find that they did not dislike that. Indeed, this is nothing but generosity and altruism by giving what is dearest to oneself just to make a fellow Muslim happy, show appreciation for him... and endear good things to him...” End quote [summarized].