What is the ruling on drinking while leaning, and what is the reason for the prohibition?
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The questioner : The Shaykh said, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Does this include drinking? Is leaning always blameworthy? And what is the reason for the prohibition?
The Shaykh : First: The saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): is not a prohibition, but it explains one of the etiquettes of eating, namely that a person should not eat while leaning, following the example of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), because eating while leaning may lead to two dangers: The first danger is that eating while leaning involves arrogance, pride, and haughtiness.
Second: Eating while leaning means eating while at rest, and one might eat a lot because he is comfortable and at ease. For this reason, Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) included eating while sitting cross-legged, meaning: like this. He says: Do not eat like this; this is part of leaning, because when a person eats like this, he eats a lot. However, the correct view is that it is not leaning. Leaning is when a person relies on his right or left hand.
So this is the reason the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not eat while leaning: so that he would not overdo it in eating and eat too much. It is well known that eating a lot is wrong in the Shari'ah and in medicine:
As for the Shari'ah, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If a person had accustomed himself to this rule from the beginning, he would have been at ease, his indigestion would have decreased, his obesity would have decreased, and his laziness would have decreased. So he eats one-third, drinks one-third, and leaves one-third. And if he gets hungry, he eats. This does not mean: you must not eat except for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You estimate one-third for food, one-third for drink, and one-third for your breath. And if you get hungry, eat. This is if it is absolutely necessary; otherwise, a few bites are sufficient for you.
But, as you know, we are now accustomed to a person eating until he is very full, so you find him becoming lazy and relaxed, and sleep comes to him. He might eat in a way he knows will affect him and harm him, and he says: We will endure it. (Endure it! Why do you eat?) Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) says: "If a person fears harm or indigestion from his eating, then eating is forbidden for him". Forbidden in the sense that he commits a sin.
Therefore, we advise our brothers, and we start by advising ourselves first—may Allah help us—not to eat a lot, and not to drink a lot, but only as much as is needed: one-third, one-third, and one-third. And if we get hungry, praise be to Allah, the thing is available.
I do not eat while leaning.
إني لا آكل متكئاًThe Shaykh : First: The saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):
I do not eat while leaning.
لا آكل متكئاًSecond: Eating while leaning means eating while at rest, and one might eat a lot because he is comfortable and at ease. For this reason, Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) included eating while sitting cross-legged, meaning: like this. He says: Do not eat like this; this is part of leaning, because when a person eats like this, he eats a lot. However, the correct view is that it is not leaning. Leaning is when a person relies on his right or left hand.
So this is the reason the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not eat while leaning: so that he would not overdo it in eating and eat too much. It is well known that eating a lot is wrong in the Shari'ah and in medicine:
As for the Shari'ah, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
A few bites suffice the son of Adam to keep his back straight. (The word "bites" is in the diminutive form to indicate a small amount.) If it is absolutely necessary, then one-third for his food, one-third for his drink, and one-third for his breath.
حسب ابن آدم لقيمات يقمن صلبه -لقيمات بالتصغير للتقليل- فإن كان لا محالة فثلث لطعامه، وثلث لشرابه، وثلث لنفسهBut, as you know, we are now accustomed to a person eating until he is very full, so you find him becoming lazy and relaxed, and sleep comes to him. He might eat in a way he knows will affect him and harm him, and he says: We will endure it. (Endure it! Why do you eat?) Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) says: "If a person fears harm or indigestion from his eating, then eating is forbidden for him". Forbidden in the sense that he commits a sin.
Therefore, we advise our brothers, and we start by advising ourselves first—may Allah help us—not to eat a lot, and not to drink a lot, but only as much as is needed: one-third, one-third, and one-third. And if we get hungry, praise be to Allah, the thing is available.