Drinking

(From http://www.inter-islam.org/Actions/manners.htm)

There are five sunnats of drinking:

1. Never drink from a bottle (carbon dioxide is released in the bottle).

2. Do not drink from the mug's cleft and do not breathe in the beverage.

3. Drink in three drafts. (sips). The Holy Prophet Peace and blessings be upon him has said: "The water quenches the thirst and is sanitary."

4. Invoke Allah (s.w) when you drink and praise him when you finish. It is reported in a hadith that the Holy Prophet Peace and blessings be upon him said: "Do not drink the water in one draft just like camels but drink it in one or three gushes, and invoke Allah (s.w) when you drink and praise him when you finish."

5. Do not drink while standing up. The Holy Prophet Peace and blessings be upon him used to drink while sitting. This way was his usual guidance. It was true that he prohibited a person to drink while standing and infact he ordered the standing drinker to vomit this water as he drank it while standing up. One group of people have stated that this order was just to guide people and to adopt the best option. Drinking Zam Zam water is permissible while standing up as the Holy Prophet Peace and blessings be upon him did because this is a case of necessity.

The Holy Prophet Peace and blessings be upon him has prohibited us to drink water lying our faces downwards, as he prohibited us from drawing water with the hands, saying: "Do not lick the water like a dog and do not taste the water at night before examining it out of fear that the recipient is covered during the night."

If a person drinks by the mouth while standing up from an elevated basin, there would be no difference between drinking with the hand or by the mouth, because drinking with the mouth is very dangerous if the drinker is lying faced down on his venture.