Eating at dining table is against sunnah

[azc]

Sayyiduna Anas (radiyallahu’anhu) reports that Rasulullah (salallahu’alayhi wasallam) never ate on a khiwan.

(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 5386)

The word khiwan is explained to mean a table with legs.

Moulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi (rahimahullah) explains the reason for which Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) abstained from eating on such a platform is so he bends over to reach the food.

(Al-Kawkabud Durry, vol.3 pg.4)

The proud ones generally don’t prefer to bend to reach the food.

(Al-Muyassar of Turbishti, Hadith:3088 and Majma’u Biharil Anwar, vol.2 pg.126)

In light of this explanation, eating on a slightly raised platform will not be in accordance to the original sunnah, as one will not be bending over completely to reach down for the food.

http://hadithanswers.com/eating-on-a-raised-platform/

[azc]

We should not eat while standing

Q: “Is it allowed to eat while standing?”

Shaikh al-Albaani:

“I say, there is no text about the prohibition of eating while standing like there occurs the text prohibiting drinking while standing. But there is a narration from Anas bin Maalik رضي الله عنه that when he narrated to those around him in a gathering that the Prophet ﷺ prohibited drinking while standing, someone said to him: ‘What about eating (while standing)?’ He replied: ‘It is worse.’
I say here, we should follow this Companion because we don’t have anything with which we can contradict him. But what is the distinction between eating while standing and eating while walking? Eating while walking is allowed, because there is text clearly stating that they used to eat while walking during the time of the Prophet ﷺ. As for eating while standing, there is no text regarding it from the Prophet ﷺ, neither negative nor positive. All we have is this authentic narration from Anas bin Maalik and this is what we act upon.
Moreover, maybe some of you noticed in these times that it has become a fashion for the disbelievers to eat while standing although chairs are present; but they don’t sit on them out of pride. So then, the previous ruling is further strengthened. I say, we are with the narration of Anas, because Anas knew what we don’t know, and because the disbelievers nowadays and the Muslims who imitate them eat while standing, so we differ from them.”

[silsilat ul-hudaa wa nnoor 246/7 / asaheeha translations]

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Hadith of Ibn Umar that stated:

“We used to used to eat in the time of the Prophet and we were walking, and drink while we were standing?”

This hadith is defective.
It was narrated by Imam Ahmed, at-Tirmidi, Ibn Maajah, and Ibn Hibbaan in his ‘Sahih’, all of them on the authority of Hafs bin Ghiyaath on Ubaydallah bin Umar on Nafi’ on Ibn Umar.

What is apparent in the isnad [chain] is that it is authentic, and it was declared Sahih by Abu ‘Eesa at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Hibbaan, and others.

However, this is doubtful, it is not proper to rely on the apparent in the isnad, and at-Tirmidhi said in his book “al-‘Ilal“:

سألت محمداً عن هذا فقال هذا حديث فيه نظر
“I asked Muhammed (al-Bukhari) about this, and he said about this hadith “It is doubtful.”

Imam, Yahya bin Ma’een, said:

لم يحدث بهذا الحديث أحد إلا حفص وما أراه إلا وهم فيه وأراه سمع حديث عمران بن حُدير فغلط بهذا

“No one narrated this Hadith except Hafs, and I don’t see it except that he made a mistake in it, I see that he heard the Hadith of ‘Imran bin Hadayr so he mistook it with this.”

The fuquhaa’ differed over the ruling on drinking while standing.
It was said that it is haram, and is allowed only if one has an excuse that prevents him from sitting,

and this is the position of Ibn al-Qayyim because of the hadith of Anas in Sahih Muslim that the Prophet forbade [zajara] from drinking while standing.

In another narration,

نهى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أن يشرب الرجل قائماً

“The Prophet forbade [nahaa] for a man to drink while standing.”

He narrated it from the hadith of Abi Sa’id al-Khudry.

On the other hand, the hadith of Ibn Abbas, saying:

سقيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من زمزم فشرب وهو قائم

“I gave the Prophet water from Zamzam, so he drank it while standing.”

Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim in their Sahihs.
And in Sahih al-Bukhari, on the authority of ‘Abdul-Malik bin Maysara on al-Nizaal, it says “Ali bin Abi Talib came to Bab al-Ruhba, and he drank while standing, then said:

إن ناساً يكره أحدهم أن يشرب وهو قائم وإني رأيت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فعل كما رأيتموني فعلت

“Some people hate for one of you to drink while standing, and I saw the Prophet do as you saw me just do.”

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"Hadhrat Anas RA reported: The Prophet (SAWS) forbade us from drinking while standing. Qatadah reported: "We asked him: "What about eating?" He said: "That is even worse, (or may be he said) more detestable."

Another narration is: Messenger of Allah (SAWS) reprimanded us for drinking while standing. [Muslim]

Abu Hurairah RA reported: Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said, "None of you should drink standing; and if any one forgets, he must vomit." [Muslim]

[Ümit]

For what I know, our prophet sas used to sit on one foot underneath him and the other leg in front of him with knee bent and footsole flat on the ground. by doing so the leg in front of him presses on his stomach.
he then eats. when he was finished and stands up, he has eaten just the right amount that he needs.

I do not know in which hadeeth I saw this, but I will look for it.

[azc]

There are a few narrations explaining the posture in which Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) ate:

1)Squatting

Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that he saw Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) squatting and eating dates.
(Sahih Muslim, hadith: 5299)

The arabic words of this narration are as follows:
رأيت النبي صلي الله عليه و سلممقعيا يأكل تمرا

2)Erecting the right leg and sitting on the left leg

Abul Hasan Al Muqri has recorded a naration in his ‘Shamail’ on the authority of Sayyiduna Anas (radiyallahu ‘anhu) that when Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would sit to eat, he would sit on his left knee and erect his right knee…

Hafiz ‘Iraqi (rahimahullah) has deemed the chain of narrators of the above narration as weak.
(Al Mughni ‘An Hamlil Asfar, Hadith: 1304)

The Arabic words of this narration are as follows:
كان اذا قعد علي الطعام استوفزعلي ركبته اليسري و اقام اليمنى

3)Kneeling on the knees OR sitting in the tashahhud position
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Busr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was once gifted a sheep, Nabi (sallalallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) knelt on his knees and began eating…
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 3263)

Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has classified the above hadith as sound (hasan)
(Fathul Bari, hadith: 5399)

The Arabic words of this narration are as follows:
أهديت للنبي صلي الله عليه و سلم شاةفجثا علي ركبتيه يأكل

Some ‘Ulama like Imam Ghazali (rahimahullah) have interpreted the above to mean ‘sitting in the tashahhud position’.

This is also is a legitimate explanation.
(See Ithafus Sadah Al Muttaqin, vol. 5 pg. 214, Zadul Ma’ad, vol. 4 pg. 203 and ‘Umdatul Qari, Hadith: 5398)
قال ابن حجر و العيني : فالمستحب في صفة الجلوس للاكل ان يكون جاثيا علي ركبتيه و ظهور قدميه أو ينصب الرجل اليمني و يجلس علي اليسري
(فتح البارى, 5399) (عمدة القارى, 5398)
قال الغزالي: ربما جثا للاكل علي ركبتيه و جلس علي ظهر قدميه و ربما نصب رجله اليمني و جلس علي اليسرى
(اتحاف السادة ج.5 ص. 214)
قال السيوطي: بل يأكل جاثيا علي ركبتيه أو مقعيا أو علي قدمه أو يقيم ركبته اليمني و يقعد علي اليسرى
(عمل اليوم و الليلة, ص. 32)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar
http://hadithanswers.com/sunnah-postures-of-eating/

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[Ümit]

Hmm, so the hadeeth I am talking about is weak...good to know...thank you very much for claring that one up!!

[azc]

Hmm, so the hadeeth I am talking about is weak...good to know...thank you very much for claring that one up!!

weak hadith isn't a fabricated one. However, sahih hadith is preferable to weak narration

[Ümit]

yes I understand. I am just suprised that it is not a strong hadeeth. It made totally sense to me. Because everything our Prophet sas has said and done is perfectly logical and explainable.
and this behaviour including explanation fitted perfectly (or seemed to fit our prophet sas perfectly). So I never felt the urge to check the hadeeth.
Again, thanks for claring that one up.

[azc]

May Allah swt reward you. Ameen

[Zzz_]

There are two types of sunnah. Sunnah of the religion and the sunnah of personal choice.

Sunnah of the religion is that one should sit down and eat.

Sunnah of personal choice maybe that he :saws: liked eating with his hands and sitting on the floor.

Only first sunnah needs to be followed.

[azc]

There are two types of sunnah. Sunnah of the religion and the sunnah of personal choice. Sunnah of the religion is that one should sit down and eat. Sunnah of personal choice maybe that he :saws: liked eating with his hands and sitting on the floor. Only first sunnah needs to be followed.

No, in this case this rule isn't applicable......

[Zzz_]

No, in this case this rule isn't applicable......

stop acting like a shaykh and passing false information.

Prophet :saws: didn't eat at a table out of personal choice, not as part of the religion. One can eat at table and it's not going against any religion based sunnah.

https://islamqa.info/en/21917

Eating from a table - islamqa.info What should a muslim do who wants to follow the sunnahbut the people you are visiting are not following the sunnahfor example they are eating from a dining tabl...

[azc]

stop acting like a shaykh and passing false information.

Prophet :saws: didn't eat at a table out of personal choice, not as part of the religion. One can eat at table and it's not going against any religion based sunnah.

https://islamqa.info/en/21917

Eating from a table - islamqa.info What should a muslim do who wants to follow the sunnahbut the people you are visiting are not following the sunnahfor example they are eating from a dining tabl...

stop being shaykh worshipper.

Prophet s.a.w never ate at table but your shaykh is allowing you to leave the way of sunnah.

And you brainwashed ignorant leaving the sunnah of prophet s.a.w because of your shaykh worshipping cult....

[azc]

You have an excellent model in the Messenger of Allah, for all who put their hope in Allah and the Last Day and remember Allah much. (Surat al-Ahzab :21)

[ChosenTCO]

Only first sunnah needs to be followed.

You used the word "needs". Would you say this word fits exactly what you meant or would it be more fitting to say "recommended"? I am curious as to know why its a need and not a recommendation.

[Zzz_]

stop being shaykh worshipper.
.

That's rich coming from a guy who thinks anyone but his maulvi and maulana saab are wrong.

Prophet s.a.w never ate at table but your shaykh is allowing you to leave the way of sunnah.

He also never forbade anyone from eating at a table.

And you brainwashed ignorant leaving the sunnah of prophet s.a.w because of your shaykh worshipping cult...

Is your manner of speaking in accordance with the Sunnah or do you cry sunnah only when it suits you?

The Prophet (S) wore a turban, are you following that sunnah?

He also wore leather socks, are you following that sunnah?

He also had long hair, are you following that sunnah?

He also used miswak and not toothbrushes, are you following that sunnah?

He also had more than one wife, are you following that sunnah?

He also never wore pants/jeans/shirts, are you following that sunnah?

He also rode a camel or a horse for travel, are you following that sunnah?

He also never flew when going to distance lands, are you following that sunnah?

How many other sunnahs are you not following while bashing others with your narrow understanding of the Sunnah?

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You have an excellent model in the Messenger of Allah, for all who put their hope in Allah and the Last Day and remember Allah much. (Surat al-Ahzab :21)

Then We gave the Scripture as inheritance unto those whom We elected of Our servants. [Qur’an, 35.32]

"so ask people who know the Scripture, if you do not know" [al-Anbiya’ 21:7].

Abu Dawood (3641) narrated that Abu’d-Darda’ said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: "...The scholars are the heirs of the Prophets. The Prophets did not leave behind dinars or dirhams, rather they left behind a heritage of knowledge, and the one who acquires it acquires an abundant portion."

Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

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You used the word "needs". Would you say this word fits exactly what you meant or would it be more fitting to say "recommended"? I am curious as to know why its a need and not a recommendation.

I'm not always particular about choice of words used, but basically, sunnah of personal choice is something you could follow if you want, out of love of the prophet (S), but you don't have to as it is not part of the religion but a personal preference of his.

For example, if you love curry but he :saws: never had any doesn't mean you have to give up your curry because its "against" the sunnah because the prophet never ate it.

[azc]

Bro, sunnah is sunnah whether we follow it or not depends on one's interest and care of sunnah

[JustTime]

it's amazing that this is what people worry about when regarding the Sunnah

[azc]

it's amazing that this is what people worry about when regarding the Sunnah

My take is that when we see any sunnah of our prophet s.a.w, we should try to follow it instead of finding any leeway to avoid it. Even I, as matter of fact, unable to follow it, when attend any function e.g. Marriage, take the food while standing or sitting at the table. This is a fact.

[cinnamonrolls1]

Well where else are we gonna eat as a family? Sitting on the floor? Its cold at this time of year

[MazharShafiq]

ALLAH purifies us to act as the sunnah

[Scimitar]

it's amazing that this is what people worry about when regarding the Sunnah

I totally agree with your sentiment. The forum has some very silly threads these days!

[azc]

Well where else are we gonna eat as a family? Sitting on the floor? Its cold at this time of year

But do intention that if it were not too cold I would follow sunnah. InshaAllah you'll be rewarded