Fatwa ID: 08328

Written by Maulana Mohammed Aabu Saeed Miah

Question:

Will it still be Sunnah if one sits on the ground with the food slightly raised on a low platform?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Sitting on the floor to eat is a proven Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ). Please see the Hadeeth below.

Narrated Anas: To the best of my knowledge, the Prophet (ﷺ) did not take his meals in a big tray at all, nor did he ever eat well-baked thin bread, nor did he ever eat at a dining table. (Sahih al-Bukhari 5386)

The focus point is to sit on the floor. It attests to one’s humility as it shows one does not take more than ones need. There is no harm in raising the food, if it is done to create ease. Elevating the food on a platform should not be done to then lessen or even remove the humility of sitting on the floor.

References:

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ يُونُسَ ـ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ هُوَ الإِسْكَافُ ـ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، رضى الله عنه قَالَ مَا عَلِمْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَكَلَ عَلَى سُكُرُّجَةٍ قَطُّ، وَلاَ خُبِزَ لَهُ مُرَقَّقٌ قَطُّ، وَلاَ أَكَلَ عَلَى خِوَانٍ‏.‏ قِيلَ لِقَتَادَةَ فَعَلَى مَا كَانُوا يَأْكُلُونَ قَالَ عَلَى السُّفَرِ‏.‏

(Sahih al-Bukhari 5386)

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Mohammed Aabu Saeed Miah

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham