With our brother Abu Arwa Ali
📚Summary:
- The Prophet ﷺ warned us from overeating, what are its dangers?
- The benefits of Islamic etiquette on food consumption
- What does Allah tell us in the Qur’an?
- Islam and Medicine
- **Go to: www.HealthyMuslim.com
Hadith 47 (Ibn Rajab’s 5th addendum)
- Al-Miqdam Ibn Ma’dikarib (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s messenger said: “No human fills a container worse than a stomach. A number of mouthfuls that keep his back straight are enough for the son of Adam. If it is a must, then a third for his food, a third for his drink and a third for his breath” [Recorded by Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasai and Ibn Majah. At-Tirmidhi said: a hasan hadith]
- The explanation of this hadith is divided into 4 parts
Part 1: “No human fills a container worse than a stomach”
- What did the Prophet (ﷺ) mean by this?
- What is the meaning of the term “container” (Al-Wi’aa) here?
- What are the reasons for describing the stomach as the worst container? Over indulging it causes:
- Leads to gluttony
- Causes illness
- Brings about laziness and blameworthy relaxation
- Is there anything wrong about relaxing?
Part 2: “A number of mouthful that keep his back straight are enough for the son of Adam”
- The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) here informs us how much food is adequate for a person
- This is an encouragement for us to prevent overeating, minimising food consumption and not squandering food.
- This is a foundation of Medicine
- We can see from this how perfect the religion of Islam is, it contains for us even advice regarding our health and medical matters
- What does a person gain from doing this:?
- You become light
- You are much more energetic
- You are preserved from illness
- An anecdote on from Yemen
Part 3: “If it is a must, then a third for his food, a third for his drink and a third for his breath”
- This means if a person is not sufficed by a few mouthfuls, and he needs to have extra, then food and drink should be within limits of two thirds of the stomach
- Why should we keep 1 third of the stomach for breath?
- Helps you to breath easily
- You are therefore not hampered by the food
- Eating to hour fill is something which is disliked, but it is allowed. What is the proof of this?
Islam and Medicine
- The guidance of our Prophet ﷺ encompasses our whole life, Islam is perfect
- The Prophet ﷺ stated “No human fills a container worse than a stomach”, this is extremely important in its impact on Medicine
- Allah says in the Qur’an: “….And eat and drink and be not excessive (therein)…” [Surah Al-A’raaf 7:31]
- Allah has created the human body and its default state is to be healthy
- We can maintain health by eating what is good for us, avoiding what is harmful for is, and not becoming excessive in our eating
- Imam Al-Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy on him) says “In eating little there is many benefits”, what did he mention?
- Ibn Rajab (may Allah have mercy on him) explains why he added this hadith. He says “this hadeeth [constitues] a comprehensive principle for all of the principles of medicine”.
- Ibn Rajab quotes the Christian physician Ibn Abee Masaawaih on the statement of Messenger of Allah ﷺ. What did he say?
- Overeating causes dysbiosis
- Statements of the Salaf
- For more information go to: www.HealthyMuslim.com
Part 4:
- This Hadith explains the Islamic etiquette concerning food consumption
- This Hadith cautions against filling the stomach
- Eating what is sufficient maintains one’s life
- If it is a must to eat more than what is sufficient, then it should be within limits of two thirds of ones stomach