Drinking While Standing
Question:
My mom often says me not to drink water standing and says me its makruh (Not jaiz).
My question is, is this true or it was just a cultural thing or sunnah?
Thanks
Answer:
Your mother is referring to some of the Hadiths that narrate from the Prophet (pbuh) that he advised people against drinking water while standing.
However there are also a number of Hadiths that indicate that the Prophet (pbuh) himself at times drank water while standing. For instance:
"Ali ibn Abi Talib 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 (pbuh) drink whilst standing, and if I drink sitting, I saw the Prophet (pbuh) drink whilst sitting.” (Ahmad, 797)
or
"Ibn Mas’ud said: I brought water to the Messenger of God (pbuh) from Zamzam and he drank whilst standing.
(Bukhari, 1637 and Muslim, 2027)
The commonly accepted reconciliation between these two groups of Hadiths is that drinking water while standing is not Haram but is disliked (Makruh).
However in my understanding the advice of the Prophet (pbuh) was not a religious advice. It was simply an advice in the interest of physical well being of people and therefore does not bring us any religious duties. The nature of the advice itself is enough to reveal that it is not a religious matter. However another evidence is the fact that based on the above narrations the Prophet (pbuh) himself would drink while standing. I really do not think that the Prophet (pbuh), in normal circumstances, would do some think that was religiously Makruh (disliked).
Accordingly, in my understanding, there is nothing religiously wrong or disliked about drinking water in the standing position.
May God be satisfied with the family of the Prophet (pbuh) and his pious companions.
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March 2013
My mom often says me not to drink water standing and says me its makruh (Not jaiz).
My question is, is this true or it was just a cultural thing or sunnah?
Thanks
Answer:
Your mother is referring to some of the Hadiths that narrate from the Prophet (pbuh) that he advised people against drinking water while standing.
However there are also a number of Hadiths that indicate that the Prophet (pbuh) himself at times drank water while standing. For instance:
"Ali ibn Abi Talib 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 (pbuh) drink whilst standing, and if I drink sitting, I saw the Prophet (pbuh) drink whilst sitting.” (Ahmad, 797)
or
"Ibn Mas’ud said: I brought water to the Messenger of God (pbuh) from Zamzam and he drank whilst standing.
(Bukhari, 1637 and Muslim, 2027)
The commonly accepted reconciliation between these two groups of Hadiths is that drinking water while standing is not Haram but is disliked (Makruh).
However in my understanding the advice of the Prophet (pbuh) was not a religious advice. It was simply an advice in the interest of physical well being of people and therefore does not bring us any religious duties. The nature of the advice itself is enough to reveal that it is not a religious matter. However another evidence is the fact that based on the above narrations the Prophet (pbuh) himself would drink while standing. I really do not think that the Prophet (pbuh), in normal circumstances, would do some think that was religiously Makruh (disliked).
Accordingly, in my understanding, there is nothing religiously wrong or disliked about drinking water in the standing position.
May God be satisfied with the family of the Prophet (pbuh) and his pious companions.
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March 2013