Is drinking water is sunnat after food or not necessary to drink water after food?
Answer:
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalāmu ῾alaykum wa Rahmatullāhi Wabarakātuh
Allamah Ibnul Qayyimرحمهاللهhas mentioned that the habit of Nabi salallahu alayhi wasallam was that of not drinking immediately after eating as this is harmful to the digestion process. However, if there is a pressing need to drink immediately after that, then only drink enough to quench the thirst. One may then drink after some time elapses.
NOTE: This elapsed time is estimated to be 20-30 minutes.
ولميكنمنهَدْيهأنيشربَعلىطعامهفيُفسده …ويُكرهشربالماءعقيبَالرياضة،والتعبِ،وعقيبَالجِمَاع،وعقيبَالطعامِوقبله،وعقيبَأكلالفاكهة،وإنكانالشربُعقيبَبعضِهاأسهلَمِنبعض،وعقبالحمَّام،وعندالانتباهمنالنوم،فهذاكُلُّهُمنافٍلحفظالصحة،ولااعتباربالعوائد،فإنهاطبائعثوانٍ.(زادالمعاد,دارالتقوى , ج3, ص114 )
And Allāh Ta῾āla Knows Best
Wassalāmu ῾alaykum
Ml. Luqman Hansrot,
Student Dārul Iftā
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Dārul Iftā, Madrasah In῾āmiyyah