Thus, the conclusion is that the most complete and preferable manner is for a person to drink while seated, though drinking while standing is permissible. ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib—may Allah be pleased with him—drank standing and said, “The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did just as you have seen me do.” This shows that there is no harm in drinking while standing, yet it is better to drink while seated.

A further question arises: if the water-cooler is inside the mosque and a person enters, should he sit down and drink, or drink while standing? If he sits, he contradicts the Prophet’s statement, “When any of you enters the mosque, let him not sit until he has prayed two rakʿahs.” But if he drinks standing, he forgoes the preferable practice. Therefore, we say the better course is to