Shaykh al-Islām—may Allah have mercy on him—was asked about “the Prophet’s drinking in three stages—may Allah bless him and grant him peace,” meaning that he paused for breath three times:

If someone drinks in a single draught, is that forbidden? Is it reported that he never drank in a single draught? Some of the ten books mention “that he drank in a single draught.” A fatwa has been written on this, and they have said that drinking in a single draught is forbidden, yet none of the scholars has heard this view. A hadith also states “that he—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—drank while standing.” Is drinking in this manner merely disliked, or is it forbidden? Does someone who drinks standing without an excuse incur sin? And is drinking in a single draught forbidden?

He replied:

Praise be to Allah. It is preferable to pause for breath three times while drinking, breathing away from the vessel, since breathing into the vessel is prohibited. If someone drinks in a single breath without pausing, however, that is permissible. For in the Sahīh collection, Anas reports:

“The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—used to pause for breath three times when drinking from a vessel.”

In a version narrated by Muslim:

“He used to pause for breath three times while drinking, saying, ‘It quenches thirst more fully and is easier on the stomach.’”

This is evidence that pausing for breath three times is recommended. In the Sahīh collection, Abū Qatāda reports that the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“When one of you drinks