Etiquettes

Eating on a table

Q: I’ve been told eating on a dining table is ‘haram’. However both me and my wife suffer from lumbar disk spondylosis and are under medical advisement to not exert ourselves too much. She can’t sit, stand or squat for a prolonged period of time. So for convenience and health’s sake my family dines on a table. Please clarify if it is indeed haram to eat in this manner and if permissible what are the conditions for it?

Covering food items and dishes at night

Q:

1. What is the correct Islamic ruling regarding washing and covering of dishes at night?

2. Should all the dishes be essentially washed before sleeping? Or Is it sufficient to cover the unwashed dishes? Or can they be left uncovered?

3. Should the washed dishes be covered too?

4. Should the fruits/vegetables be covered?

5. Do the food items like boiled milk inside shelves having net door need to covered?

Sitting and drinking

Q: With regards to sitting whilst eating or drinking, does this only apply to full meals, or even when one is drinking a few sips of water or fruit etc. I was in the habit of always sitting even if drinking a little bit of water, but someone told me that I don't need to sit because it's not a meal. Please clarify.