Musnad Humaydi

Benefit:
In this hadith, the manner of eating food while sitting is described. In some narrations, the words (muq’iyan) are mentioned. (Sahih Muslim: 2044) Its meaning is: to sit on the buttocks with the shin and thigh joined together. (Also see: Irwa’ al-Ghalil: 29/7) Eating slowly is not good; rather, one should eat quickly. Making the eating of dates a regular habit in life is recommended, as it has many benefits.

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) used to eat food with humility and modesty, not in the manner of the arrogant or those who consider eating and drinking to be the sole purpose of life, and who sit in such a way as to be able to eat abundantly. Therefore, he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) did not sit fully cross-legged in order to eat a lot, but rather would try to finish quickly.

Benefits and Issues:
Explanation: (Iq‘a’) means to sit on the ground in such a way that the shins are upright in front.
In this position, sometimes one also needs to take support from behind.
Therefore, it can be inferred from this that in the case of illness, weakness, etc., taking support is permissible.
It is mentioned in Fath al-Bari that in one narration, instead of the word (muq‘i), the word (muhtafiz) appears,
meaning he was sitting squatting.
In any case, it is established from the general narrations that eating while taking support (leaning back) is against the Sunnah.
‘Allamah Khattabi also includes sitting in a relaxed or sprawling manner under (ittika’),
such as sitting cross-legged, because in this position a person tends to eat excessively.
Except if there is an excuse.
The scholars (such as Ghazali and others) state that the best manner is to sit on the knees or to raise the right knee
and sit on the left, as is established from some other narrations.