News: Practice of Spitting on Food before it is being served in practiced by a section of people
· There are videos in the public domain showing Muslims spitting on food before it is being served. The descriptions say that it is a pious Muslim tradition to add saliva to the food after reciting some Quranic verses before distributing it.
· It is also told that, even the commercial establishments owned by Muslims have adopted this practice. It is also told that Muslims managing the road-side restaurants in towns, cities and high-ways, who are seen as tasting eateries and beverages before selling them are also following this practice.
· Many Islamic Scholars in online Islamic websites, in response to the questions by devout Muslims, have provided explanation on the validity of this practice in Islam.
Fact check by @medsyn
To determine if a practice is Islamic, there are a couple of rules. First is if it is available in Quran. Second is if it is available in Sunna. Sunna includes credible biography of Messenger and the Hadiths (things recorded by companions of Muhammad). References to rituals related to food are not available in Quran. However, they are available in Hadiths.
But before visiting these sources, it is better to understand the explanations available in the public domain from the contemporary Islamic Sources. The acts that are seen in the video are said be an act of Dua – that is a prayer to God with a request, a supplication or a request. Along with the prayer, the action involved is said to be blowing. Some people say that it is blowing air, some say it is blowing water. But, the water is not seen in the video. The purpose of Dua with blowing is for prosperity of food that is being prepared.
According to devout Muslims, the contemporary explanations are to be matched with Quran and Sunna for confirmation. In the, Hadiths, there are references of Prophet Muhammad purifying the food. In one specific reference, dough and a meat pot from the house of a companion of the Messenger was added with saliva of the Messenger as an act of purification.
In a slightly different context, Muslims follow Ruqyah – an exorcist practice of pre-Islamic era. However, the prayer that is recited by Muslims is from Quran. This practice is approved by the Messenger. And here, a patient or a person who is affected by Jinn may be treated by invoking the name of Allah, smearing the mixture of soil and saliva (or water) with the act of blowing.
Saliva is also used in Islam to ward off the evil. During prayers, if the believers are disturbed by Satan, the Muslims are advised to spit saliva to their left three times.
Prophet Muhammad was respected very much by his companions. So much that there are references that his companions used to take the water used by the Prophet for washing for their own personal use. His companions used to fight for this water and they used to smear the little water they get on to their bodies.
Not just that, one Hadith mentions that, his devout companions would even collect the spittle of the Prophet Muhammad and smear it on their bodies.
Prophet Muhammad has also approved Ruqyah being performed by some of his companions. It may be safely interpreted that purification of food may also be performed by his companions during his time and at present times.
Many Islamic websites address this question from the believers who would like to know the validity of use of saliva in Islamic rituals. These websites give long answers and many times to specific questions. For example, one answer exclusively attempts to answer the use of saliva to ward off satan, another answer deals with Ruqyah. Yet another answer explains the purification of food. The conclusion in these websites is that there is no harm in blowing some light saliva.
Based on these references and contemporary explanations, it appears that blowing air over food before distribution with air, water or saliva is not barred in Islam. And, many may be practicing this ritual either in religious gatherings or in commercial establishments.
Hadith References:
Muhammad bin Ar Rabi: Messenger took a mouthful of water from a bucket ejected on Muhammad bin Ar-Rabi in his house.
Urwa: He had gone to the kings and to Caesar, Khosrau and An-Najashi. But, he has never seen any of them respected by his followers as much as Muhammad is respected by his followers. If he spat, the spittle would be taken in the hand of one of the Messengers companions. He would rub it on his face and skin. If Messenger performed ablution, his companions would struggle to take the remaining water for their ablutions.
Jabir bin Abdullah: Wife of Jabir bin Abdullah gave dough to him the Prophet, and he spat in it and invoked for Allah's Blessings in it. Then the Prophet proceeded towards our earthenware meat-pot and spat in it and invoked for Allah's Blessings in it.
Abu Said Al-Khudri: Chief of a tribe that was not following Muhammad was stung by a scorpion. They asked the companions of the Prophet medicine or anybody who can treat with Ruqya. The Prophet's companions asked payment and the tribe agreed to pay a flock of sheep. One of the Prophet's companions recited al-Fatiha surah, gathered his saliva and spat at the snake-bite. The patient got cured and his people presented the sheep. Then, followers asked Messenger whether is lawful. To this question, Messenger smiled and approved the practice. He permitted taking the flock of sheep and asked for a share for himself.
Aisha: Messenger used to treat via Ruqya with name of Allah, and applying a mixture of the earth of land with a slight shower of saliva. He also approved this treatment from some of his companions.
