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Fatwa CenterTalking while eating
Question
is there any haadith on whether one can talk while eating or not. Someone said there is an hadith that said Jews make noise while eating and christien keep silent althrough, and that based on this, ROSUL (SAW) ordered us to be inbetween, neither too noisy nor too silent. Is there any hadith like this? if yes where can we find it? may Allah ease the task for you.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
After investigation, we have not come across any authentic or weak narration from the Prophet 
with the meaning which you mentioned. However, Al-'Ajlooni 
quoting As-Sakhaawi said about speaking while eating food: "I do not know any narration which restricts it or allows it."
Therefore, in principle it is permissible to talk when eating food, but there are some etiquettes which should be observed. It is reported that Ash-Shaafi'ee said: ''Among the etiquettes of eating food is not to talk too much." Furthermore, Ibn Al-Haaj from the Maaliki school said: "One should not absolutely avoid talking when eating food, because if one does so, it is an innovation, also one should not talk too much, as talking too much while eating is an innovation because this may prevent others from eating."
Indeed, the best matters are the moderate ones.
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