Sahih
Muslim
صحيح مسلم
36
The Book of Drinks
كتاب الأشربة
Chapter 18: 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 2032 b
Ibn Ka'b b. Malik reported on the authority of his father that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to eat (food) with three fingers and he licked his hand before wiping it (with towel).
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، بْنِ سَعْدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَأْكُلُ بِثَلاَثِ أَصَابِعَ وَيَلْعَقُ يَدَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَمْسَحَهَا .
Grade: Sahih