Is Talking While Eating Permissible?
بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
Is it Permissible to Talk While Eating?
Darulifta Ahlesunnat (Dawateislami)
Question
What do the noble scholars and jurists of Islamic law say about the following: Should one remain silent while eating, or not?
Answer
Eating silently is a practice of fire worshipers. Therefore, to avoid imitating them, one should engage in good conversations instead of eating silently, such as mentioning accounts from the lives of pious predecessors or mentioning Sunnahs and etiquette. However, if one eats quietly without the intention of imitating the non-Muslims, but because they simply do not feel like speaking, then there is no harm in doing so.
ʿAllāmah Ibn ʿAbidīn, Sayyid Muḥammd Amīn Bin ʿUmar Shāmī رحمة اللہ تعالى عليه (d. 1252AH / 1836 CE) writes:
ويكره السكوت حالة الأكل لأنه تشبه بالمجوس ويتكلم بالمعروف
(Radd al-Muḥtar ʿAlā al-Durr al-Mukhtār, Book of prohibition and permission, Vol. 06, p. 340, Publ. Dār al-Fikr, Beirut)
It is stated in al-Fatāwā al-ʿAlamgīrī:
و لا يسكت على الطعام و لكن يتكلم بالمعروف و حكايات الصالحين، كذا في الغرائب
(Al-Fatāwā al-Hindiyah, Book of disliked matters, Chapter two, Topic gifts and hospitality, Vol. 05, p. 345, Publ. Dār al-Fikr, Beirut)
Shaykh al-Tarīqah, the Amīr of Ahl al-Sunnah, Maulānā Muḥammad Ilyas ʿAttar Qādri دامت بركاتهم العالية writes:
کھانا کھاتے ہوئے اچھا سمجھ کر چپ رہنا آتش پرستوں کا طریقہ ہے، ہاں بولنے کو جی نہیں چاہ رہا تو حرج نہیں، یوں ہی فضول گوئی ہر حال میں نامناسب ہی ہے ، لہذا کھانے کے دوران اچھی اچھی باتیں کرتے جائیے، مثلاً جب بھی گھر میں مل جل کر یا مہمانوں وغیرہ کے ساتھ کھا رہے ہوں تو کھانے پینے کی سنتیں بیان کیجئے۔
Translation: Remaining silent while eating and considering this to be virtuous is the practice of fire-worshippers. But, if one does not feel like speaking, then there is no issue. Furthermore, idle talk is unappreciated at all times. Therefore, engage in good conversations while eating. For example, when eating together at home or with guests, mention the Sunnahs of eating and drinking. (Khaney Ka Islamī Tarīqah, p. 13, Publ. Maktaba-Tul-Madīnah, Karachi)
وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَ سَلَّم
(Allah Almighty knows best and His Messenger صَلَّی اللہُ عَلَیْہِ وَ اٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّمknows best.)
Answered By: Mufti Muhammad Qasim Attari
Ref No: FAM-958
Date: 2nd Jumād al - ʾUlāʾ 1447 AH / 25th October 2025