Eating while
standing
source:
silsilat ul-hudā wa nnūr ~ the series of guidance and light
~ tape no. 246
Question #7: “Is it allowed to eat while standing?”
Shaykh al-Albānī answers:
“I say, there is no text with regard to the prohibition of
eating while standing like (there) came the text to prohibit
drinking while standing. But there is a narration from Anas
bin Mālik (radiAllāhu ‘anhu), that when he narrated to those
around him in gathering that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم)
prohibited drinking while standing, someone said to him:
‘What do you say about eating (while standing)?’ (Anas)
said: ‘It is worse.’
I say here, it is necessary that we follow this Companion
because there isn’t anything with us with which we can
contradict him. But what is the difference between eating
while standing and eating while walking? Eating while
walking is allowed, because clear text reports that they
used to eat while walking during the time of the Prophet (صلى
الله عليه وسلم). As for eating while standing, there is no
text regarding it from the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), not
negative (prohibiting/discouraging it) nor positive
(obligating/encouraging it). We only have this authentic
narration from Anas bin Mālik and we act by it.
Another thing is connected to (this affair), which is –
maybe some of you noticed, in this era, that it has become a
part of the fashion of the disbelievers to eat while
standing although chairs are present, but they don’t sit on
them out of arrogance. Hence, the previous ruling increases
in strength. Yes, I say, we side with the narration of Anas,
because Anas knows what we don’t know, and because the
disbelievers today and the Muslims who imitate them eat
while standing, so we (should) be different from them.”
~ asaheeha translations ~
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