Eating While Sitting on a Chair

Question

Here in Africa it is the custom to eat while sitting on chairs; moreover, people do not even take off their shoes while eating. Is it permissible to eat in this way?

Answer

This manner is contrary to the sunna. Where it is a distinguishing mark (shi‘ar) of the kafirs and the fasiqs, it is entirely prohibited. Where it is not a distinguishing mark but is common, such that this is also the practice of the righteous, there is not that degree of severity in it; rather, on the whole there is some lightness — yet it is still contrary to the sunna.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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