Benefits of eating with the fingers

The greatest benefit of eating with one’s fingers is that it is a great Sunnah of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. Holding firm onto a Sunnah at the time of Fitnah is equal to the reward of 100 martyrs.

Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu reports that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “Whoever holds fast onto my Sunnah at the time of corruption will attain the reward of a hundred martyrs.”

Furthermore, if a person eats with his fingers, then one will be able to lick his fingers, which is yet another Sunnah.

Jabir Radiallahu Anhu reports that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “When the morsel of any of you falls, then let him remove the dirt on it and eat it, and he should not leave it for Shaytaan, and he should not wipe his hand with a handkerchief until he licks it, or someone else licks it for him, for indeed he does not know which of his food contains blessings.

Also, one who practices on the Mubarak Sunnah of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam will attain the rank of being with Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam in Jannah:

Sheikh Muhammad Rasheed Ridhaa (a famous Egyptian scholar) once visited Deoband and had breakfast with Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri Rahimahullah, where some sweetmeats were served. Sheikh Muhammad Rasheed Ridhaa was eating with a spoon, while Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri Rahimahullah was eating with his fingers. He offered a spoon to Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri Rahimahullah who refused saying that the ‘natural spoon’ was better than the spoon for several reasons.

Firstly, it can contract and expand which the spoon cannot do. Secondly, it has a sensory perception-it can perceive how hot the food is and whether the mouth can tolerate it, or not. Thirdly, it is compatible with the mouth-it cannot hurt the mouth as compared to the spoon. Fourthly, man is comfortable with it. One attains pleasure by licking it, as compared to the spoon-one is not comfortable with, it neither is there any enjoyment in licking it. [Malfoozaat of Mufti Mahmood Hasan Gangohi Rahimahullah Vol.2 Pg.451]