Why Eating While Standing is Not Haram in Islam
C J Ahmed-12.03.2023
Eating while standing is not haram in Islam because there is no evidence in the Quran or authentic hadith which prohibit eating while standing. Many scholars have given their ruling stating that eating or drinking while standing is haram. One such scholar is sheikh Albani. But when we analyse all the hadiths, the correct conclusion is that drinking or eating while standing is not haram at all. In this article I hope to inshaAllah prove once and for all why eating while standing is halal.
Ali (rali) Allowed Drinking While Standing
Narrated An-Nazzal:
“Ali came to the gate of the courtyard (of the Mosque) and drank (water) while he was standing and said, "Some people dislike to drink while standing, but I saw the Prophet (sal) doing (drinking water) as you have seen me doing now.”
(Bukhari)
This hadith proves clearly that drinking while standing is halal in Islam. In another hadith narrated in Musnad Ahmad (hadith number 797) narrated that ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (rali) drank whilst standing and the people looked at him as if they objected to that. He said: “What are you looking at? If I drink whilst standing, I saw the Prophet (sal) drink whilst standing, and if I drink sitting, I saw the Prophet (sal) drink whilst sitting.”-Ahmad Shakir said in Tahqeeq al-Musnad: its isnad is sahih.
Some try to come to the assumption that Ali (rali) did not know that the prophet (sal) had forbade the Muslims from drinking while standing. My question is what is the evidence they have to prove this assumption? and the answer is none. in the second hadith which I have quoted, Ali (rali) himself said" If I drink whilst standing, I saw the Prophet (sal) drink whilst standing, and if I drink sitting, I saw the Prophet (sal) drink whilst sitting.”
This clearly shows that Ali (rali) was clearly aware of what the prophet (sal) said and did. The prophet (sal) told to follow the Sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs and if Ali (rali) wa so ignorant, the prophet (sal) would not have told to follow his sunnah. The people who say that Ali (rali) did not know about the ruling of drinking while standing are not more knowledgeful than the rightly guided caliphs. Irbaad ibn Saariyah narrated: the prophet (sal) said,
“I advise you to fear Allaah and to hear and obey even if an Abyssinian slave were to rule over you. For surely, he who lives from amongst you will see much differing, so it is upon you to be upon my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs. Bite on to it with your back molar teeth and beware of newly invented matters, for verily, every newly invented matter is an innovation, and all innovation is misguidance.”
(Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi –Authenticated by Albani)
Many people go to the extent of telling that only Ali (rali) drank while standing. This opinion is proven wrong by the following hadith in the next Proof.
Ibn Mas’ood (rali) too Narrated Of Prophet (sal) Drinking While Standing
Ibn Mas’ood (rali) said:
“I brought water to the Messenger of Allaah (sal) from Zamzam and he drank whilst standing.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
This is clear evidence that ibn Mas’ood (rali) was also aware that prophet drank while standing and singling out and arguing that only Ali (rali) saw the prophet (sal) drinking while standing is a false argument put forward by people who are ignorant.
Even Ibn Umar (rali) Used to Eat and Drink While Standing
Ibn ‘Umar (rali) said: “We used to eat at the time of the Messenger of Allaah (sal) whilst walking and we used to drink whilst standing.” (Classed as saheeh by al-Albani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi)
Here, ibn Umar (rali) too drank while standing making it clear that the sahaba themselves ate and drank while standing and they were the most knowledgeful of the saying and actions of prophet (sal). There is one narration from Anas (rali) who said the following,
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, prohibited a man from drinking while standing up. We said, “And eating?” He replied “That is even worse.”
(Sahih Muslim)
This is only Anas (rali)’s opinion and this cannot be taken as evidence to prove that eating while standing is haram. Even for the sake of argument if we accept this hadith based on the opinion of a sahabi, then this is what ibn Umar rali (rali) had to say about eating while standing,
Ibn ‘Umar (rali) said: “We used to eat at the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) whilst walking and we used to drink whilst standing.”(Classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih at-Tirmidhi)
Even scholars like al Albani who was dead against eating and drinking while standing said the following with regards to eating while standing,
“I say, there is no text about the prohibition of eating while standing like there occurs the text prohibiting drinking while standing.”
(Silsilat ul-Hudaa-Wan-Noor 246/7)
In an article published by Healthline.com which you can read by clicking this link In an article published by Healthline.com which you can read by clicking this link https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/eating-while-standing-up said the following about eating while standing,
“Individuals with reflux or heartburn may benefit from standing upright while eating. Moreover, standing up and walking during a meal may speed digestion, further reduce the likelihood of reflux and heartburn.”
Conclusion
it is clear from the evidence in Islam that eating while standing is not at all haram. Islam is silent when it comes to eating while standing. Islam is an easy religion and taking a lenient stand on this issue will solve this problem.
Eating while standing is not haram in Islam because there is no evidence in the Quran or authentic hadith which prohibit eating while standing. Many scholars have given their ruling stating that eating or drinking while standing is haram. One such scholar is sheikh Albani. But when we analyse all the hadiths, the correct conclusion is that drinking or eating while standing is not haram at all. In this article I hope to inshaAllah prove once and for all why eating while standing is halal.
Ali (rali) Allowed Drinking While Standing
Narrated An-Nazzal:
“Ali came to the gate of the courtyard (of the Mosque) and drank (water) while he was standing and said, "Some people dislike to drink while standing, but I saw the Prophet (sal) doing (drinking water) as you have seen me doing now.”
(Bukhari)
This hadith proves clearly that drinking while standing is halal in Islam. In another hadith narrated in Musnad Ahmad (hadith number 797) narrated that ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (rali) drank whilst standing and the people looked at him as if they objected to that. He said: “What are you looking at? If I drink whilst standing, I saw the Prophet (sal) drink whilst standing, and if I drink sitting, I saw the Prophet (sal) drink whilst sitting.”-Ahmad Shakir said in Tahqeeq al-Musnad: its isnad is sahih.
Some try to come to the assumption that Ali (rali) did not know that the prophet (sal) had forbade the Muslims from drinking while standing. My question is what is the evidence they have to prove this assumption? and the answer is none. in the second hadith which I have quoted, Ali (rali) himself said" If I drink whilst standing, I saw the Prophet (sal) drink whilst standing, and if I drink sitting, I saw the Prophet (sal) drink whilst sitting.”
This clearly shows that Ali (rali) was clearly aware of what the prophet (sal) said and did. The prophet (sal) told to follow the Sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs and if Ali (rali) wa so ignorant, the prophet (sal) would not have told to follow his sunnah. The people who say that Ali (rali) did not know about the ruling of drinking while standing are not more knowledgeful than the rightly guided caliphs. Irbaad ibn Saariyah narrated: the prophet (sal) said,
“I advise you to fear Allaah and to hear and obey even if an Abyssinian slave were to rule over you. For surely, he who lives from amongst you will see much differing, so it is upon you to be upon my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs. Bite on to it with your back molar teeth and beware of newly invented matters, for verily, every newly invented matter is an innovation, and all innovation is misguidance.”
(Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi –Authenticated by Albani)
Many people go to the extent of telling that only Ali (rali) drank while standing. This opinion is proven wrong by the following hadith in the next Proof.
Ibn Mas’ood (rali) too Narrated Of Prophet (sal) Drinking While Standing
Ibn Mas’ood (rali) said:
“I brought water to the Messenger of Allaah (sal) from Zamzam and he drank whilst standing.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
This is clear evidence that ibn Mas’ood (rali) was also aware that prophet drank while standing and singling out and arguing that only Ali (rali) saw the prophet (sal) drinking while standing is a false argument put forward by people who are ignorant.
Even Ibn Umar (rali) Used to Eat and Drink While Standing
Ibn ‘Umar (rali) said: “We used to eat at the time of the Messenger of Allaah (sal) whilst walking and we used to drink whilst standing.” (Classed as saheeh by al-Albani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi)
Here, ibn Umar (rali) too drank while standing making it clear that the sahaba themselves ate and drank while standing and they were the most knowledgeful of the saying and actions of prophet (sal). There is one narration from Anas (rali) who said the following,
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, prohibited a man from drinking while standing up. We said, “And eating?” He replied “That is even worse.”
(Sahih Muslim)
This is only Anas (rali)’s opinion and this cannot be taken as evidence to prove that eating while standing is haram. Even for the sake of argument if we accept this hadith based on the opinion of a sahabi, then this is what ibn Umar rali (rali) had to say about eating while standing,
Ibn ‘Umar (rali) said: “We used to eat at the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) whilst walking and we used to drink whilst standing.”(Classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih at-Tirmidhi)
Even scholars like al Albani who was dead against eating and drinking while standing said the following with regards to eating while standing,
“I say, there is no text about the prohibition of eating while standing like there occurs the text prohibiting drinking while standing.”
(Silsilat ul-Hudaa-Wan-Noor 246/7)
In an article published by Healthline.com which you can read by clicking this link In an article published by Healthline.com which you can read by clicking this link https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/eating-while-standing-up said the following about eating while standing,
“Individuals with reflux or heartburn may benefit from standing upright while eating. Moreover, standing up and walking during a meal may speed digestion, further reduce the likelihood of reflux and heartburn.”
Conclusion
it is clear from the evidence in Islam that eating while standing is not at all haram. Islam is silent when it comes to eating while standing. Islam is an easy religion and taking a lenient stand on this issue will solve this problem.