Sahih Muslim 2032a — Chapter: It is recommended…

Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2032a

Chapter 18: Chapter: It is recommended to lick one's fingers and wipe the bowl, and to eat a piece of food that is dropped after removing any dirt on it. It is disliked to wipe one's hand before licking it, because of the possibility that the blessing of the food may be in that remaining part. The Sunnah is to eat with three fingers

باب اسْتِحْبَابِ لَعْقِ الأَصَابِعِ وَالْقَصْعَةِ وَأَكْلِ اللُّقْمَةِ السَّاقِطَةِ بَعْدَ مَسْحِ مَا يُصِيبُهَا مِنْ أَذًى وَكَرَاهَةِ مَسْحِ الْيَدِ قَبْلَ لَعْقِهَا

Sahih Muslim 2032aBook 36, Hadith 170

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ، مَهْدِيٍّ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ ابْنِ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَلْعَقُ أَصَابِعَهُ الثَّلاَثَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ ‏.‏ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرِ ابْنُ حَاتِمٍ الثَّلاَثَ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ فِي رِوَايَتِهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ كَعْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ ‏.‏

Ibn Ka'b b. Malik reported on the authority of his father that he saw Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) licking his three fingers (after having finished the food). Ibn Hatim made no mention of" three". This hadith is also narrated through another chain of transmitters.