Number of Dastar Khans when eating
Category:
According to Madhhab:
Reference:
Question:
When we put
down the sufra to eat
Must the food
be placed on a seperate cloth to the one we are sitting on?
Or do we
sit on 1 big cloth with the food as well?
What is the
correct sunnah?
Answer:
The Kitaabs of Hadith state that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would eat upon a Dastarkhaan, which is referred to as ‘Sufar’ in the Hadith.
وَقَالَ أَنَس مرة : مَا عَلِمْتُ ال نَّبِِ عليه السلام أَكَلَ عَلَى سُكْرُجَةٍ قَطُّ ، وَلا خُبِزَ لَهُ مُرَقَّقٌ قَطُّ ، وَلا أَكَلَ عَلَى خِوَانٍ قَطُّ ، قِيلَ لِقَتَادَة : فَعَلامَ كَانُوا يََْكُلُونَ ؟ قَالَ : عَلَى السُّفَرِ )صحيح البخاري ص 881 ج 2 )
This is the maximum that has we have been able to find with regards to the Dastarkhaan in the Ahaadith, that they used to eat on a Dastarkhaan. There is no mention of the number of Dastarkhaans. However, we learn from the Mashaaikh of Tasawwuf that two pieces of cloth should be laid out; the bottom piece should be for sitting whilst a second piece of cloth (on which the food will be placed) should be laid on that. This second piece is in respect and honour of the food as the provisions provided by Allah Ta'aala is undoubtedly a great bounty of Allah Ta'aala.
This method prescribed by the Mashaa’ikh is worthy of being followed although not obligatory. It could be categorized from amongst the etiquettes of eating (which have been prescribed by our seniors.)
AND ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST
ANSWERED BY: Mufti Mohammed Desai
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY: Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B
Date: 20 Safar 1441 Darul Ifta Azaadville English Date: 19 October 2019