MUSLIMS are famous for feasting. The most lip-smacking delicacies and mouth watering dishes with special spices spread across Muslim cultures are an indication of just how much we eat. We often eat so much that this great blessing turns into a great suffering. The great scholar Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali, may Allah reward him, wrote a piece of gem on this topic while explaining a Hadith. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “No human being 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, Al-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'ee, Ibn Majah - Sahih) Explanation: • Ibn Masaweh, a Muslim physician, said after reading this Hadith: “If the people only acted upon these words, they would avoid all diseases and maladies, and the clinics and pharmacies would be idle.” • Another doctor, Al-Harith Bin Kalada said: “What killed mankind is the introduction of food on top of food before it could be digested.” • Spiritual benefits of eating less: Humbleness of the heart, strengthening of understanding, decrease in lowly desires and anger. Overeating induces the opposite. Al-Hasan Al-Basri 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.” • A man said to Ibn Umar (a Companion of the Prophet, peace be upon him): “Shouldn't I bring you some Jawarish?” Ibn Umar said: “What is that?” He said: “It helps in digesting your food after you eat.” Ibn Umar 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.” • Muhammad Bin Wasi said: “Whoever eats little will feel cleared and humble. Overeating weighs a person down and stops him from much of what he wants (to accomplish).” • Al-Hasan Al-Basri said: “The test of Adam (peace be upon him) was food and it is your test until the Last Day.” 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-Hasan offered some food to his companion who said: “I have eaten until I am no longer able to eat.” To which Al-Hasan remarked: “Subhan Allah! Does a Muslim eat so much that he is no longer able to eat?” • Allah grants this world to those whom He loves and those He does not love but only grants hunger to those whom he loves. • Al-Shafi'i said: “I have not eaten full stomach for the past 16 years because filling oneself with food makes the body heavy, removes clear understanding, induces sleep and makes one weak for worship.” • The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Food for one is enough for two and food for two is enough for three and food for three is enough for four.” (Sahih Muslim) • The Prophet (peace be upon him said), “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 obesity will appear among them.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) • The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “My greatest fear for you is the love for excess with regard to your stomachs and your private parts and the inclinations which lead astray.” (Ahmad and others) – Jaami' Al-'Uloom Wal-Hikam of Ibn Rajab Al
