What is the ruling on eating with a spoon? And is it permissible for me to differ from the disbelievers by eating with my hand?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : If this matter is a matter of religion, such as imitating the enemies of Allah, and a person, for example, is able to leave it off.
The Shaykh : What is the imitation?
Another questioner : It is eating with a spoon.
The questioner : It is eating with a spoon. I am able to eat with my hand, and there is no blame on me if I leave off the spoon?
The Shaykh : My brother, imitation in worldly matters requires precision. It is not permissible. This is what I feared; I mean, right now, if we ride in a car, is there imitation or is there no imitation?
Another questioner : There is imitation.
The questioner : Yes, but this is like a necessity, meaning the car.
The Shaykh : No, if you used the mount that your father and grandfather used, the situation would still work, but your material interests would be hindered!
The questioner : Correct; because there is [a benefit] in it.
The Shaykh : Okay; and likewise, it is said regarding the spoon.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : And I tell you: if you truly want my opinion, I tell you now: eating with a spoon is better than eating with the hand; do you know why?
The questioner : Why?
The Shaykh : Like the loudspeaker now; it is better to call the adhan with a loudspeaker on the minaret than to limit yourself to your voice only; because it achieves the goal—as we said—more. As for eating, I say: first, you know that the Sunnah is to eat with only three fingers; is that not so?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And I observe that all those who eat in this manner do not apply the Sunnah; especially when there is broth, you find that not only four fingers, but the whole palm is soiled. Where is the Sunnah of eating with three fingers? With five, okay. I say: this is from one aspect. From another aspect, I observe that the container on which the rice is, for example, you find around it on the ground crumbs of rice, for example, a lot and a very great deal. Did you notice this with me or not?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Whereas the one who eats with a spoon does not eat from it except what is scattered and very little. So preserving the blessing of the favor...
The Shaykh : What is the imitation?
Another questioner : It is eating with a spoon.
The questioner : It is eating with a spoon. I am able to eat with my hand, and there is no blame on me if I leave off the spoon?
The Shaykh : My brother, imitation in worldly matters requires precision. It is not permissible. This is what I feared; I mean, right now, if we ride in a car, is there imitation or is there no imitation?
Another questioner : There is imitation.
The questioner : Yes, but this is like a necessity, meaning the car.
The Shaykh : No, if you used the mount that your father and grandfather used, the situation would still work, but your material interests would be hindered!
The questioner : Correct; because there is [a benefit] in it.
The Shaykh : Okay; and likewise, it is said regarding the spoon.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : And I tell you: if you truly want my opinion, I tell you now: eating with a spoon is better than eating with the hand; do you know why?
The questioner : Why?
The Shaykh : Like the loudspeaker now; it is better to call the adhan with a loudspeaker on the minaret than to limit yourself to your voice only; because it achieves the goal—as we said—more. As for eating, I say: first, you know that the Sunnah is to eat with only three fingers; is that not so?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And I observe that all those who eat in this manner do not apply the Sunnah; especially when there is broth, you find that not only four fingers, but the whole palm is soiled. Where is the Sunnah of eating with three fingers? With five, okay. I say: this is from one aspect. From another aspect, I observe that the container on which the rice is, for example, you find around it on the ground crumbs of rice, for example, a lot and a very great deal. Did you notice this with me or not?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Whereas the one who eats with a spoon does not eat from it except what is scattered and very little. So preserving the blessing of the favor...
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.