Manners of sitting whilst eating

 

Regarding the manners of sitting when eating it was the habit of the Holy Prophet  that he did not eat whilst reclining.
     It was true that the Holy Prophet  said:
"I do not eat while reclining. I do sit like the slave of Allah and I do eat like him."
It is narrated in a hadith that the Holy Prophet  prohibited the man to eat while lying with his face  downward.
      The concept of reclining has been explained in various ways:
1.   To sit cross-legged.
2.   To lean on an object.
3.   To lean upon a flank (side).

Regarding  number 3, (to lean upon  a flank) it is the most harmful way of sitting because when you lean upon a flank it alters the natural way of food . The other two (to sit cross-legged  and to lean on an object ) are the ways the powerful people sit who go contrary to slavery.

Thus, the Holy Prophet  said:
"I do eat like the slave of Allah does" and the Holy Prophet  ate sitting on his heels. He has said that he ate leaning on his knees, the method is by placing the inside of his left foot the back of his right foot; as a sign of modesty towards Allah (s.w) of politeness between his hands and of respect for the food and the guest. This way of eating is proven to be the best and safest, because all the organs are left in their natural condition which Allah the powerful created, including the civilized position .
One should not also lean on pillows and mattresses because this position was the powerful people and the ones who eat excessively.
      Abu Nu'aim has related that "The Holy Prophet  prohibited sleeping immediately after dinner as he said that this fact hardens the heart." Thus, the doctors have advised us to walk after dinner about one hundred steps and prohibit sleeping immediately after as this is very harmful. The muslim Doctors say that one should pray after supper so that the aliments settle at the bottom of the stomach in order to make the digestion easier and better.