Is it Sunnah to sit on the floor to eat?

1.The Muslim
is required to follow the example of the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) because he is the best example
for this ummah.

2.The scholars
have divided the actions of the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) into a number of categories:

a.Thoughts
and ideas that cross the mind, and physical movements such as how one
moves one’s limbs and body. These are matters in which there is no command
to follow him and there is no prohibition against doing so.

b.Matters
which have nothing to do with worship and have to do with human nature,
such as how one stands, sits, etc. It is not commanded to follow the
Prophet’s example in these matters, but according to the majority of
scholars it is permissible to do so.

c.Matters
which may move beyond spontaneous human actions to the field of legislation
(being prescribed in Islam) because the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) persisted in doing them
in a certain manner. These include matters of eating, drinking, dressing
and sleeping, especially those concerning which the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) gave specific guidance.
The correct view is that these are included in matters which are prescribed
in Islam. This is the view of al-Shaafa’i and was regarded as more correct
by al-Shawkaani in his book Irshaad
al-Fuhool. This category includes the matters asked about
in the question.

d.Matters
which are known to be applicable only to the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), such as continual fasting
[i.e., fasting for more than one day without breaking the fast at night]
and having more than four wives. These apply only to him and not to
anyone else.

And there are other categories…

(Irshaad al-Fuhool
by al-Shawkaani, p. 160).

 3.It was
narrated that the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to eat (sitting) on the ground.

And it was narrated that he said: “I eat as a slave
eats and I sit as a slave sits.”

(Narrated by Abu Ya’laa, 8/318)

This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-‘Allaamah al-Albaani
(may Allaah have mercy on him) in al-Silsilat
al-Saheehah, 544.

It was also narrated that Anas ibn Maalik said: “The
Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) never ate at a khiwaan or a sikrujjah, and he never
had any soft bread.” I said to Qutaadah: “What did he used to eat from?”
He said, “A cloth (spread on the floor).”

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5099).

A khiwaan is a kind of tray on which food is placed.

A sikrujjah is a vessel in which appetizers are placed.

In such matters it is not obligatory for the Muslim
to follow the example of the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), but he may still do so.
If a Muslim eats at a table, there is no sin on him.

With regard to clothing, we are obliged to
dress differently from the people of the Book and all other kaafirs,
because the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) issued commands to that effect, and
warned against dressing like the kuffaar.

The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever imitates
a people is one of them.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood, 4031)

This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in
Irwaa’ al-Ghaleel, 8/49.

And he
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to ‘Abd-Allaah ibn
‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas: “This is one of the garments of the kuffaar, do not
wear it.”

Narrated by Muslim, 2077.

‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased
with him) told ‘Utbah ibn Farqad: “Beware of the manner of dressing
of the people of shirk.” (Narrated by Muslim, 2069).

Conclusion:

It is mustahabb (recommended, encouraged) for the Muslim
to follow the example of the Messenger
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in the matters mentioned
in the question, i.e., eating and drinking (seated) on the ground, but
there is no sin in eating at a table. With regard to clothing, the Muslim
is commanded to dress in Muslim clothes and to dress differently than
the mushrikeen.

And Allaah knows best.