He—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—was also asked about eating and drinking while standing:
“Is it lawful, forbidden, or merely discouraged without being forbidden? Is eating and drinking permissible when one has an excuse, as in the case of a traveller? And may one eat and drink while walking along the road?”
He replied:
When there is an excuse, there is no harm in doing so. It is established that:
“The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—drank Zamzam water while standing.”
The place was not suitable for sitting. When there is no need, however, it is disliked, since it is established that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—forbade it. This distinction reconciles the texts. And Allah knows best.
He—may Allah have mercy on him—was also asked about a man who said:
“The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—never ate yellow melon in his life.”
Another said:
“The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—ate grapes daw dū.”
He replied:
Praise be to Allah. The assertion that “he ate grapes dū dū” is a lie with no basis. As for melons, they used to eat them; but the variety commonly known among them was the melon