Question:

I’ve heard a few times in the past that it’s sunnah to have something sweet after a meal. I was never given any evidence regarding this and can’t find anything myself stating that there’s any truth to this. Is there any authenticity to this?

Answer:

No evidence was found supporting this from the Sunnah.

But Imam Ibn Qudaama rahimahullah wrote:

“Chapter: The etiquette of presenting food:

As for presenting food, then it has five etiquette:

1. Hastening to present it because that is from honoring the guest
2. Preceding with fruit first before anything else. That is more correct according to medicine. Allah says:

وَفَاكِهَةٍ مِمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ (20) وَلَحْمِ طَيْرٍ مِمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ

And fruit; that they may choose. And the flesh of fowls that they desire.

[56:20-21]

Then what is best to present after fruit is the meat, especially grilled meat, then what is best food after meat is tharid, then sweets. And these good foods are completed by drinking cold water and the affair is completed by pouring lukewarm water on the hand when washing”

[Mukhtasar Minhaaj al-Qaasideen pg. 74-75]

Translated by

Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sualymaan

—

So he rahimahullah supported sweets after food. And Allah knows best

~ Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan