باب ما جاء في أكل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
23  
Description Of The Eating Of Rasoolullah
Ash-Shama'il Al-Muhammadiyah 136
Reported on the authority of Ibn al-Ka'b ibn Malik, that his father said:
"The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to lick his fingers three times.”
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ ابْنٍ لِكَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَلْعَقُ أَصَابِعَهُ ثَلاثًا‏.‏
Grade: Da'if isnad (Zubair Alizai)  إسناده ضعيف   (Zubair Alizai) حكم   :
Reference : Ash-Shama'il Al-Muhammadiyah 136
In-book reference : Book 23, Hadith 1
Explanation
comments
After eating it is mustahab to lick the fingers before washing the hands. According to some authorities, due to this narration it is mustahab to lick the fingers thrice. Mulla 'Ali Qaari says three times is not meant here, but that three-fingers should be licked, as will be stated in another narration. Therefore, another narration of Sayyidina Kaa'b bin Maalik Radiyallahu 'Anhu is also mentioned in this chapter. Some commentators of the hadith say that it is a separate etiquette to lick the fingers thrice, so that it becomes completely clean, and in another narration where three fingers are mentioned, is also one of the etiquettes.
Hadith Text
Reference