Hadith 8 - Breathing twice or trice while drinking

• 1 •
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to breathe three times in the course of a drink (he used to drink in three gulps).
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

[sahih_hadith] Commentary: Water should be drunk in three breaths, that is one should breathe three times outside the drinking vessel one is drinking from. This habit has a salutary impact on one's character and helps one avoid doing things in haste.


• 2 •
Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Do not drink in one gulp like a camel, but in two or three (gulps). Mention the Name of Allah (i.e., say Bismillah) when you start drinking and praise Him (i.e., say Al-hamdu lillah) after you have finished (drinking).''
[At-Tirmidhi].

[sahih_hadith] Commentary: This Hadith, too, prohibits us from drinking water in a single breath. It is preferable to say Bismillah every time we drink, and Al-hamdu lillah every time we stop drinking.

• 3 •
Abu Qatadah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) forbade breathing into the vessel while drinking.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

[sahih_hadith] Commentary: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) prohibited us from breathing in the drinking vessel because the bad smell or spittle may flow into the drink. This is both loathsome as well as injurious to one's health.