Engaging in futile talks whilst eating
Question:-
Some people have a tendency to talk a lot whilst partaking of a meal. After the meal, they engage in idle chit-chat about things that don’t even pertain to the Deen and even includes backbiting. Please advise on this Mufti Sahib!
Answer:-
It is recorded in some Kitaabs that it is Makrooh to remain absolutely silent whilst eating. One should either engage in light-hearted conversations whilst eating or, better yet, to make Shukr to Allah Ta’ala on partaking of every morsel of food. However, one should refrain from Gheebat at all times, and one should not discuss matters of grief and sorrow whilst eating as it may cause others to lose their appetite.
One should also refrain from engaging in futile talks at all times. It is recorded in a narration that a man speaks a word from the displeasure of Allah, not thinking that it will reach where it reached, then Allah Ta’ala will write his displeasure because of it until the day of Qiyaamah. Hadrat Alqama used to say that the Hadith of Bilaal Bin Haarith Radiallahu Anhu (which we quoted above) had prevented him from great deal of speech.
By backbiting we are transferring our good deeds into the account of the person whom we speak ill about. No intelligent person will transfer his savings into another person’s account! Merely thinking of the above will suffice in preventing one from backbiting.
يكره الصمت عند الأكل حتى لا يتشبه بالأعاجم (الدرر المنتقاة من الكلمات الملقاة ص370 ج9)
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ عَلْقَمَةَ اللَّيْثِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ عَلْقَمَةَ عَنْ بِلَالِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ الْمُزَنِيِّ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ” إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَتَكَلَّمُ بِالْكَلِمَةِ مِنْ رِضْوَانِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، مَا يَظُنُّ أَنْ تَبْلُغَ مَا بَلَغَتْ، يَكْتُبُ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَهُ بِهَا رِضْوَانَهُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَتَكَلَّمُ بِالْكَلِمَةِ مِنْ سَخَطِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، مَا يَظُنُّ أَنْ تَبْلُغَ مَا بَلَغَتْ، يَكْتُبُ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِهَا عَلَيْهِ سَخَطَهُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ” قَالَ: فَكَانَ عَلْقَمَةُ يَقُولُ: ” كَمْ مِنْ كَلَامٍ قَدْ مَنَعَنِيهِ حَدِيثُ بِلَالِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ ” (مسند احمد)
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 23 Jumadal Ukhra 1444 / 16 January 2023