اللَّهُمَّ أنتَ رَبِّي لا إلهَ إلاَّ أنتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وأنَا عَبْدُكَ وأنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ ووَعْدِكَ ما اسْتَطعتُ، أعُوذُ بكَ مِن شَرِّ ما صَنَعْتُ، أبُوءُ لكَ بنعْمَتِكَ عليَّ وأبُوءُ بِذَنبي فاغْفِرْ لي فإنَّهُ لا يغفِرُ الذُّنوبَ إلا أنتَ.

Prophet's Guidance on proper way to sit while eating

Best way to sit

فَصْلٌ فِي هَدْيِهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي هَيْئَةِ الْجُلُوسِ لِلْأَكْلِ

صَحَّ عَنْهُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ:  لَا آكُلُ مُتَّكِئًا (أخرجه البخاري في الأطعمة، والإمام أحمد، وأبو داود، وابن ماجة) ، وَقَالَ:  إِنَّمَا أَجْلِسُ كَمَا يَجْلِسُ الْعَبْدُ، وَآكُلُ كَمَا يَأْكُلُ الْعَبْدُ (رَوَاهُ فِي شرح السّنة) وَرَوَى ابْنُ مَاجَهْ فِي سُنَنِهِ أَنَّهُ نَهَى أَنْ يَأْكُلَ الرَّجُلُ وَهُوَ مُنْبَطِحٌ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ (أخرجه ابن ماجة في الأطعمة، وأبو داود)

It is authentically reported that Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “I do not eat while reclining.” He also said, “I sit as a servant sits, and I eat as a servant eats.” (Mishkat al-Masabih 5835, 5836). Ibn Majah also reported in his Sunan that Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم prohibited a man from eating while lying on his stomach.

وَقَدْ فُسِّرَ الِاتِّكَاءُ بِالتَّرَبُّعِ، وَفُسِّرَ بِالِاتِّكَاءِ عَلَى الشَّيْءِ، وَهُوَ الِاعْتِمَادُ عَلَيْهِ، وَفُسِّرَ بِالِاتِّكَاءِ عَلَى الْجَنْبِ. وَالْأَنْوَاعُ الثَّلَاثَةُ مِنَ الِاتِّكَاءِ، فَنَوْعٌ مِنْهَا يَضُرُّ بِالْآكِلِ، وَهُوَ الِاتِّكَاءُ عَلَى الْجَنْبِ، فَإِنَّهُ يَمْنَعُ مَجْرَى الطَّعَامِ الطَّبِيعِيِّ عَنْ هَيْئَتِهِ، وَيَعُوقُهُ عَنْ سُرْعَةِ نُفُوذِهِ إِلَى الْمَعِدَةِ، وَيَضْغَطُ الْمَعِدَةَ، فَلَا يُسْتَحْكَمُ فَتْحُهَا لِلْغِذَاءِ، وَأَيْضًا فَإِنَّهَا تَمِيلُ وَلَا تَبْقَى مُنْتَصِبَةً، فَلَا يَصِلُ الْغِذَاءُ إِلَيْهَا بِسُهُولَةٍ. وَأَمَّا النَّوْعَانِ الْآخَرَانِ: فَمِنْ جُلُوسِ الْجَبَابِرَةِ الْمُنَافِي لِلْعُبُودِيَّةِ، وَلِهَذَا قَالَ: «آكُلُ كَمَا يَأْكُلُ الْعَبْدُ» وَكَانَ يَأْكُلُ وَهُوَ مُقْعٍ ، وَيُذْكَرُ عَنْهُ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَجْلِسُ لِلْأَكْلِ مُتَوَرِّكًا عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ، وَيَضَعُ بَطْنَ قَدَمِهِ الْيُسْرَى عَلَى ظَهْرِ قَدَمِهِ الْيُمْنَى تَوَاضُعًا لِرَبِّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، وَأَدَبًا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ، وَاحْتِرَامًا لِلطَّعَامِ وَلِلْمُؤَاكِلِ، فَهَذِهِ الْهَيْئَةُ أَنْفَعُ هَيْئَاتِ الْأَكْلِ وَأَفْضَلُهَا، لِأَنَّ الْأَعْضَاءَ كُلَّهَا تَكُونُ عَلَى وَضْعِهَا الطَّبِيعِيِّ الَّذِي خَلَقَهَا اللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ عَلَيْهِ مَعَ مَا فِيهَا مِنَ الْهَيْئَةِ الْأَدَبِيَّةِ، وَأَجْوَدُ مَا اغْتَذَى الْإِنْسَانُ إِذَا كَانَتْ أَعْضَاؤُهُ عَلَى وَضْعِهَا الطَّبِيعِيِّ - وَلَا يَكُونُ كَذَلِكَ إِلَّا إذا كان الإنسان منتصبا الِانْتِصَابَ الطَّبِيعِيِّ، وَأَرْدَأُ الْجِلْسَاتِ لِلْأَكْلِ الِاتِّكَاءُ عَلَى الْجَنْبِ، لِمَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ أَنَّ الْمَرِيءَ، وَأَعْضَاءَ الِازْدِرَادِ تَضِيقُ عِنْدَ هَذِهِ الْهَيْئَةِ، وَالْمَعِدَةُ لَا تَبْقَى عَلَى وَضْعِهَا الطَّبِيعِيِّ، لِأَنَّهَا تَنْعَصِرُ مِمَّا يَلِي الْبَطْنَ بِالْأَرْضِ، وَمِمَّا يَلِي الظَّهْرَ بِالْحِجَابِ الْفَاصِلِ بَيْنَ آلَاتِ الْغِذَاءِ، وَآلَاتِ التَّنَفُّسِ. وَإِنْ كَانَ الْمُرَادُ بِالِاتِّكَاءِ الِاعْتِمَادَ عَلَى الْوَسَائِدِ وَالْوَطَاءِ الَّذِي تَحْتَ الْجَالِسِ، فَيَكُونُ الْمَعْنَى أَنِّي إِذَا أَكَلْتُ لَمْ أَقْعُدْ مُتِّكِئًا عَلَى الْأَوْطِيَةِ وَالْوَسَائِدِ، كَفِعْلِ الْجَبَابِرَةِ، وَمَنْ يُرِيدُ الْإِكْثَارَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ، لَكِنِّي آكُلُ بُلْغَةً كَمَا يَأْكُلُ الْعَبْدُ

The term “reclining” has been interpreted in different ways: sitting cross-legged, leaning on something, or lying on one's side. Of these three types of reclining, one in particular can be harmful to the eater—reclining on one's side—as it impedes the natural flow of food to the stomach, obstructing its passage and pressing on the stomach, which prevents it from fully opening for the intake of food. Additionally, this position causes the stomach to tilt rather than remain upright, making it difficult for food to reach it easily.

As for the other two forms, they are typical of the posture of the arrogant, which contradicts humility. This is why Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “I eat as a servant eats.” He would eat while squatting, and it is reported that he would sit with his knees folded, placing the sole of his left foot on the back of his right foot, showing humility to his Lord and respect for the food and those eating with him.

This way of sitting is the most beneficial and dignified posture for eating, as it allows all the body’s organs to remain in their natural positions as Allah created them. It is also a way of showing good manners, which contributes to the best nourishment when all the body parts are aligned naturally.

And this natural uprightness is only achieved when a person sits with his body in an upright, natural position. The worst posture for eating is reclining on one's side, as it causes the esophagus and swallowing muscles to constrict, while the stomach is unable to remain in its natural position. This happens because the side of the stomach pressed against the ground and the diaphragm; which separates the digestive organs from the respiratory organs; causes compression.

If by reclining one means leaning on cushions or pillows placed under the seated person, then the intended meaning is: "When I eat, I do not sit reclining on cushions and pillows as the arrogant do or those who seek to indulge in food in excess. Rather, I eat in moderation, as a servant eats."