By Asma Bint Shameem
I feel really tired! I can't get up for Fajr!
I just don't have the energy to do anything!
I just don't have Khushoo' in my Salaah!
I don't know why I yawn so much during my prayers!
I can't seem to lose weight! I've tried all the diets in the world but nothing works!
Do these remarks sound familiar? Do they remind you of someone?
Do you realize, O Brother/Sister in Islaam, that these conditions are caused by nothing but.....EATING TOO MUCH!
Eating too much is the ROOT of much of the problems we have today.
We don't need to eat more than a few bites to stay alive and fit.
The Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said:
"The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat a few morsels to keep him alive. If he must fill it, then one-third for his food, one-third for his drink, and one-third for air."
(al-Tirmidhi --saheeh by al-Albaani)
Not only is it bad for the “bodily” health of a person, but overeating is equally bad, rather worse, for his “spiritual” health and wellbeing, as well as for his *Aakhirah*.
Abu Juhayfah said:
"A man burped in the presence of the Messenger of Allaah (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam)
and he said:
"Keep your burps away from us, for the one who eats his fill the most in this world will be hungry for the longest time on the Day of Resurrection."
(al-Tirmidhi --saheeh by al-Albaani)
After hearing that Abu Juhayfah did not eat his fill until he departed from this world; if he ate breakfast he would not eat dinner and if he ate dinner he would not eat breakfast, and he said: "I have not filled my stomach for
thirty years."
Yet, we force our kids to eat, to finish their plate or just simply stuff themselves until they are full.
And we do the same ourselves.
What we don't realize is that, not only is this bad for health, and against the wise teachings of our beloved Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam), but it is this ‘excessive eating’ that is keeping us away from the sincere and focused worship of Allaah that we are searching for.....that Khushoo'....that Sakeenah, the peace that should be there in all our Ibaadaat.
Ibrahim ibn Adham said:
"Any one who controls his stomach is in control of his deen, and anyone who controls his hunger is in control of good behavior.
Disobedience towards Allaah is nearest to a person who is satiated with a full stomach, and furthest away from a person who is hungry."
This is because eating one's fill makes the heart hard, the body heavy, and causes laziness in Ibaadah and work.
All of us can speak from our personal experiences in Ramadhaan, when standing in Taraaweeh, reading Qur’aan, or
worshiping Allaah in any way becomes so heavy and difficult if we eat too much.
It was said to Imaam Ahmad:
"Does a man find any softness and humility in his heart when he is full?
He said, "I do not think so."
Eating too much is a sign of a hypocrite. And eating less is a sign of a Muslim.
The Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said,
"A believer eats in one intestine (is satisfied with a little food), and a kafir (unbeliever) or a hypocrite eats in seven intestines (eats too much)."(al-Bukhaari)
And that is why the Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) and his companions used to go hungry from time to time, even if they had enough food.
And that’s one of the wisdoms behind regular fasting.
Umm-ul-Momineen Aaishah radhi Allaahu anhaa said:
"From the time of their arrival in Madeenah up until his death, the family of Muhammad never ate their fill of bread made from wheat three nights in a row."
(Bukhaari)
Some people argue that as long as what they are eating is “Halaal”, they can eat whatever they want, whenever they want and in whatever quantity they want.
But Allaah *condemns* everyone who is extravagant, *even in things that are permissible*:
"and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allaah) likes not those who waste by extravagance"
[al-A'raaf 7:31]
Umar Radhi Allaahu anhu said:
"By Allaah, if I wanted I could wear the finest clothes among you, and eat the best food, and have the most luxurious life.
But I heard that Allaah will condemn people for some of their actions and said:
"You received your good things in the life of the world, and you took your pleasure therein.
Now this Day you shall be recompensed with a torment of humiliation, because you were arrogant in the land without a right, and because you used to rebel against Allaah's Command (disobey Allaah)"
(Surah al-Ahqaaf :20)
BENEFITS of Eating LESS
The Ulama point out multiple benefits of eating in moderation.
Eating less keeps the body healthy and light,
keeps the heart soft,
increases memory,
weakens desires, and
disciplines the soul;
while excessive eating brings about the opposite of these praiseworthy qualities.
Haatim al-Taa'iy said:
"If you give your stomach and your private part what they ask for, you will end up regretting it."
(Fath al-Baari)
In fact, the Ulama say that if a person eats so much food that it harms him, then this is haraam. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah (22/329).
That is because anything that harms is not allowed in Islaam.
Allaah says:
"Do not kill yourself...." (Surah al-Nisaa':29)
Also, the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said:
"There should be no harming or reciprocating harm."
(al-Haakim --saheeh by al-Albaani)
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying good food and drinks.
These are also awesome blessings of Allaah upon us.
But we shouldn’t make “food” our
*”goal”* in life.
Rather, we consider our food and drink a MEANS to something else...
A means to keep our bodies healthy so that we may WORSHIP our Rabb in the BEST manner possible...
the kind of worship that will make us qualified for the honor of this life and happiness of the Hereafter.
Sufyaan al-Thawri said:
"If you want your body to be healthy and to sleep less, then eat less."
Therefore, if we're not hungry, we shouldn't eat.
And if we're not thirsty, we shouldn't drink.
And the wisdom behind whatever the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said or did 1400 years ago is being proven now with science, and it shows the truthfulness of his Prophethood and the beauty of our beautiful Deen, Islaam...the perfect way of life.
If we follow the instructions of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam of filling our stomachs one third with food, one third with drink and leave one third for air, we would have no problems or issues regarding weight gain.
Isn’t that exactly what “portion control” is all about?
The weight loss industry is a multi-billion dollar business.
Obesity is a major American tragedy, affecting millions of people of all ages.
Overeating is leading people to all sorts of illnesses and diseases; from heart disease to diabetes, arthritis to asthma, from nightmares and insomnia to depression and anxiety, just to name a few.
When it comes to eating better, less is definitely more.
Eating less is the perfect way to lose those extra pounds we have been trying to shed all these years.
While we were trying so hard and looking every place under the sun to lose that weight, we forgot to look right under our noses.....
We forgot that the best and most perfect diet is to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam and his guidelines regarding eating.
For, indeed, it is only his way that is the best and his guidance that is perfect.
And Allaah knows best
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