According to hadiths narrated from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), it is mentioned that he said, “I do not eat while reclining.” Based on these hadiths, the Prophet avoided eating in a reclining position (Bukhari, At’ima 13; Abu Dawud, At’ima 17; Ibn Majah, 21). The type of reclining referred to here was common among the wealthy of that era, where people would lean or half-lie down while eating, which symbolized arrogance, indulgence, and unnecessarily prolonged time at the table.
Most Islamic scholars consider such behavior to be makruh (disliked), as it reflects arrogance and lacks humility. In the Hanafi school, eating while reclining without arrogance is permissible, but if done with pride, it is deemed haram. Therefore, eating in a humble and modest manner is generally recommended.
I