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Eating on a raised platform

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How did Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa salam) take his meals on the floor? i.e, the food was on the floor or how was it?

Can the following be regarded as sunnah or in conformity to Sunnah: a person eats whilst seated on the floor and his food on a raised table approximately 60 cm above the ground.

Answer

Sayyiduna Anas (radiyallahu’anhu) reports that Rasulullah (salallahu’alayhi wasallam) never ate on a khiwan.

(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 5386)

The word khiwan is explained to mean a table with legs.

Moulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi (rahimahullah) explains the reason for which Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) abstained from eating on such a platform is so he bends over to reach the food.

(Al-Kawkabud Durry, vol.3 pg.4)

The proud ones generally don’t prefer to bend to reach the food.

(Al-Muyassar of Turbishti, Hadith:3088 and  Majma’u Biharil Anwar, vol.2 pg.126)

In light of this explanation, eating on a slightly raised platform will not be in accordance to the original sunnah, as one will not be bending over completely to reach down for the food.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar

This answer was collected from HadithAnswers.com. The answers were either answered or checked by Moulana Haroon Abasoomar (rahimahullah) who was a Shaykhul Hadith in South Africa, or by his son, Moulana Muhammad Abasoomer (hafizahullah), who is a Hadith specialist. 

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