The ills of overeating
On the authority of Al-Miqdaam ibn
Maadiy-Karib who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah(SAW) saying:
"No human ever filled a vessel worse than the stomach. Sufficient
for any son of Adam are some morsels to keep his back straight. But
if it must be, then one third for his food, one third for his drink
and one third for his breath." (Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasaa'i).
1. Ibn Masaweh, a Muslim doctor, said after reading this hadith: "If
the people only used these words, they would avoid all diseases and
maladies and the clinics and pharmacies would be idle."
2. Another doctor, Al-Harith ibn Kalada said: That which has killed
mankind is the introduction of food on top of food before it has
been digested.
3. As for spiritual benefits: humbleness of heart, strength of
understanding, lessening of lower desires, lessening of personal
opinions and anger, while overeating induces the opposites of all of
those. Al-Hassan Al-Basri(rh) said: "O, son of Adam, eat with one
third of your stomach and drink with one third and leave one third
of your stomach to breathe so that you may think."
4. Ibn Umar(RA): A man said to Ibn Umar(RA): Shouldn't I bring you
some jawarish? Ibn Umar(RA) said: What is that? He said: Something
which aids in digesting your food after you eat. Ibn Umar(RA) said:
I have not eaten to being full for four months. That is not because
I am not able to do so, but I was with a group of people who were
hungry more than they were full.
5. Not reaching your goals: Muhammad ibn Wasi(rh) said: Whoever eats
little will understand and make others understand and will be clear
and humble. Overeating weighs a person down and keeps him from much
of what he wants [to accomplish]."
6. Al-Hassan Al-Basri(rh): The test of Adam, peace be upon him, was
food and it is your test until Qiyama. And, it used to be said:
Whoever takes control of his stomach gets control of all good deeds.
And: Wisdom does not reside in a full stomach. One day, Al-Hassan
offered some food to his companion who said: I have eaten until I am
no longer able to eat. To which Al-Hassan said: Subhaana Allah! Does
a Muslim eat until he is no longer able to eat?
7. Allah grants this world to those whom He loves and those He does
not love but only grants hunger to those whom he loves.
8. Ash-Shafi'I(rh) said: I have not filled myself in sixteen years
because filling oneself makes the body heavy, removes clear
understanding, induces sleep and makes one weak for worship.
9. In Muslim and Bukhari: "The believer eats with one stomach while
the kafir eats with seven stomachs." Meaning: The believer eats with
the manners of Islam and in moderation, while the kafir eats based
on desires and gluttony and so he eats with seven stomachs.
10. Also: "Food for one is enough for two and food for two is enough
for three and food for three is enough for four."
11. Also: From Aisha(Ra): The family of Muhammad (SAW) never filled
themselves with wheat bread three days in a row from the time he
came to Madinah until he passed away."
12. A Muslim should not merely follow his appetites. Allah said:
{Then, they were followed by generations who neglected the prayer
and followed their appetites. They will encounter a pit of fire
except for those who repent…} Surah Maryam 59-60.
13. The best generations didn't. "The best generation is my
generation, followed by the one after them then the one after them.
Then will come a people who bear witness but are not asked to bear
witness, who swear oaths but do not fulfill them and fatness will
appear among them." (Muslim &Bukhari).
14. From Abi Barza that the Prophet (sas) said: "My greatest fear
for you is the appetites of transgression with regard to your
stomachs and your privates and the inclinations which lead astray".
(Ahmad) |
