Q: 53 – Title: Is drinking water is sunnat after food or not necessary to drink water after food?

Question

Is drinking water is sunnat after food or not necessary to drink water after food?

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalamu 'alaykum wa Rahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

Allamah Ibnul Qayyim رحمه الله has 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.

ولم يكن من هَدْيه أن يشربَ على طعامه فيُفسده ... ويُكره شرب الماء عقيبَ الرياضة، والتعبِ، وعقيبَ الجِمَاع، وعقيبَ الطعامِ وقبله، وعقيبَ أكل الفاكهة، وإن كان الشربُ عقيبَ بعضِها أسهلَ مِن بعض، وعقب الحمَّام، وعند الانتباه من النوم، فهذا كُلُّهُ منافٍ لحفظ الصحة، ولا اعتبار بالعوائد، فإنها طبائع ثوانٍ.
(زاد المعاد,دار التقوى , ج3, ص114 )

And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Wassalamu 'alaykum

Ml. Luqman Hansrot,
Student Darul Ifta

Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Ifta, Madrasah In'amiyyah