AsalaamzWW Mufti Saab. Id be grateful if you can clarify an eating adaab thats been a topic of discussion amongst friends recently. Is it sunnah to have some salt before (and/or after) meals. Is there is any reference in the life of Rasulullah SAW or Sahabah RAD that this was done.
Answer
(Fatwa: 388/360=B/1430)
Allama Shami quoted this hadith in his book ?Raddul Muhtar? that food should be started with salt and should be ended on salt. But this hadith is not authentic i.e. it is not of such status that it can be regarded as sunnah; therefore it will not be called sunnah. It is not wrong if you act upon it or leave it, both are allowable, there is no sin whatsoever.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband