13/07/2026
Drinking Water While Standing
One habit of mine is to show that there is often another side beyond popular belief. When people judge others after seeing only one side of an issue, I like to present the other side. Because of this, I receive a lot of criticism. I have never built a “celebrity image,” nor do I intend to. Alhamdulillah, I am not saddened by that in the slightest.
Allah is the One who provides my sustenance. I am not afraid that invitations to deliver lectures will decrease, nor am I afraid of losing followers. No group, organization, or institution provides my livelihood. Therefore, even if some people become upset with me, it does not affect me. Alhamdulillah.
Why do I speak against popular opinions and the mainstream? Because in our society, opposing views are often looked down upon, and scholarly disagreement (ikhtilaf) is rarely tolerated. It is important to remind people that there may be another valid scholarly opinion, even if it differs from what is commonly accepted.
Today, by the will of Allah, I would like to discuss one such issue.
Drinking Water While Standing
It is narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 5615) that Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) drank water while standing. He then said:
“Some people dislike drinking while standing, but I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) do exactly as you have just seen me do.”
It is also narrated in Musnad Ahmad (Hadith 797) that when Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) drank while standing, people looked at him with disapproval. He replied:
“Why are you looking at me? If I drink while standing, I have seen the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) drink while standing. And if I drink while sitting, I have also seen him drink while sitting.”
Imam Ahmad Shakir graded this chain as authentic (Sahih).
Furthermore, Jami’ al-Tirmidhi (Hadith 1880/1881) narrates from Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that:
“During the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), we used to eat while walking and drink while standing.”
Imam al-Tirmidhi declared this narration Sahih.
These are authentic narrations from Sahih al-Bukhari, Musnad Ahmad, and Jami’ al-Tirmidhi. There are also authentic narrations about the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) drinking Zamzam water while standing, although those reports relate specifically to Zamzam and are not discussed here.
If the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed an act even once, and that ruling was not abrogated, I cannot describe that act as blameworthy.
Yes, I fully acknowledge that drinking while sitting was the Prophet’s usual practice and is the preferred Sunnah. Most narrations describe him drinking while seated. However, drinking while standing occasionally is supported by authentic hadith and is not something that should be treated as a major sin.
Unfortunately, some people judge a person’s piety merely by whether they drink while standing or sitting. This is an unhealthy attitude.
Garments Below the Ankles
A similar discussion applies to the issue of men wearing garments below the ankles.
There are numerous authentic hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari stating that dragging one’s garment out of arrogance is prohibited. The wording “out of arrogance” appears in many narrations. Therefore, legal rulings should not be based on a single hadith while ignoring the others; all authentic evidence should be considered together.
I have also presented the opinions of the four great Imams of Islamic jurisprudence. They were among the righteous generations praised by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who said:
“The best of people are my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari)
The Imams of the four schools understood Islam far better than we do.
Yes, keeping one’s garment above the ankles is Sunnah. Whoever does so will be rewarded, in sha’ Allah. According to one well-known scholarly opinion, if someone wears his garment below the ankles without arrogance, he is not sinful. In earlier times, kings and wealthy rulers would drag their garments as a sign of pride and status. It was this arrogance and extravagance that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) condemned. Pride belongs to Allah alone.
A Final Reminder
For the record, I personally drink water while sitting, and Alhamdulillah I also keep my trousers above my ankles.
However, I sincerely ask everyone to respect legitimate scholarly differences of opinion. Let every matter remain in its proper place—neither exaggerated nor trivialized. Otherwise, we risk injustice.
Let us not treat issues such as drinking water while standing or wearing garments below the ankles as though they are equivalent to unquestionably major sins such as alcohol, gambling, adultery, or fornication.
Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) know best.