Dinning Tables & Chairs

[ummtaalib]

Hadhrat Mufti Taqi Usmani مدظلہ relates the following incident:

 

Once Hadhrat Hakeemul-Ummah Ashraf Ali Thanvi رحمۃ اللہ علیہ was compelled by circumstances to take food sitting round a dining table and chairs. Hadhrat Thanvi رحمۃ اللہ علیہ admitted that eating on table and chair was not unlawful, yet it had some similarity to the methode of eating adopted by the English infidels. In order to avoid this similarity Hadhrat Thanvi رحمۃ اللہ علیہ ate his food on the Table placing his legs on the chair. In this way he eliminated the possibility of similarity to the English style of eating.

 

Anyway, it is quite lawful to take food sitting round dining tables and chairs. There is no sin involved in it. It should, however, be noted that the nearer a man’s actions are to the Sunnah, the greater will be the blessing in the actions and the reward for them. It is not good to make it a regular habit to eat sitting round dining tables and chairs unnecessarily. It is better to eat sitting on the ground as far as possible. The dining table and chair may be used for this purpose only in very compelling circumstances. One must take care not to support his back against something while eating. He should stoop the body forward. The Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ و الہ وسلم has declared it a style of the arrogant to take food while supporting the back against something. This style must be avoided.

 

[Jamiah Masjid Baitul Mukarram; 22nd July, 1993]

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