Blowing on Food & Drink

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem.

Blowing on Food & Drink:

(This one is for the mothers!)

Ibn ‘Abbas reported that the “Prophet (saw) prohibited blowing on food and drink.”

Takhreej:

• Reported by Imam Ahmad in his musnad (2818 & 3366 – declared Saheeh by Ahmad Shaakir).
• Ibn Maajah (3288) with the wording: “The Prophet (saw) never used to blow on food or drinks or breathe in any utensils.” (Declared da’eef by al-Albani due to the narrator Shareek ibn Abdillah al Qaadhi was had a weak memory: see irwaa al ghaleel: 1977).
• Similar has been reported without the mentioning of ‘food’ in Tirmidhi & Ibn Maajah.
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The scholars commented on these narrations by saying that blowing should not be done in order to remove any substances from the drink/food or for the purpose of cooling it down since it will lead to saliva falling onto them. Al 'Adheem Aabadi states in ‘Awn al Ma’bud: “And likewise one should not blow into a utensil of food to cool it down, rather one should be patient and not eat the food when it is (very) hot, otherwise the blessings will be removed from it.” (See Hadeeth no. 3240 with its explanation). Al Baaji also states in Muntaqa Sharh al Muwatta: “Imam Malik said: “It is disliked to blow onto food just as it is to blow onto drinks.” (See hadeeth: 1445 with its explanation).

Interestingly, al Mardaawi states in al Insaaf (21/366 [published with al Muqni & Sharh al Kabeer]): “It is disliked to blow on food according to the correct opinion of the (hanbali) mathhab. The following works also mention drinking: ar-Ri’aayah, al aadaab & others. The author of al Mustaw’ib stated: “Blowing on food, drink and books (!!) is prohibited.” Al Aamidi stated: “It is not disliked to blow on food if it was hot.” I say: “That is correct if there was a pressing need to eat at that moment. Also, it is disliked to eat (very) hot food.”

Al Munaawi also stated in Faidh al Qadeer (12/6244): “al Mahlab stated: “The prohibition applies to the one who is eating with someone else. Thus, if one was to eat by himself or with one someone who would not be offended (by the blowing) like his wife, child or servant; then there is no harm in that.’ However, it is argued that it is more preferable to apply the hadeeth according to its general wording (without restricting it.)”

I say: Regardless of the situation it is best to avoid blowing without exception as was the general opinion of the hanaabilah.

And Allah (swt) knows best.

Abu Qutaybah.