Qur'anic Perspective on Food
Allah SWT touches on two extremely important points in
the Qur'an when it comes to food consumption: quantity and quality.
As to food quantity, He
states:
وَڪُلُواْ وَٱشۡرَبُواْ وَلَا تُسۡرِفُوٓاْۚ
“ Eat and drink, but not to excess ”
As to food quality, He
states:
يـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُلُواْ مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَـكُمْ
“ O people of faith, eat from the pure provisions we have given you ”
These verses are the golden rules of food
consumption. Both the quantity and quality of food we eat have a
direct impact on our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.
Excessive food consumption and poor food choices can lead to obesity.
“ According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, a staggering 35.7 percent of U.S. adults suffer from obesity and 17 percent of adolescents aged from 2-19 are obese. Americans on average currently consume 31 percent more calories than we did forty years ago. Obesity can lead to countless health problems, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, anxiety and depression. ”
The Messenger and Food Quantity
“ The worst vessel the son (or daughter) of Adam ever fills in his (or her) stomach. It is enough for the son of Adam to eat a few morsels that will maintain his back’s uprightness. But if he must add more to his stomach, then let it be one third for food, one third for water, and one third for air. "
The statement is a stark warning
and profound advice from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings
be upon him and his family). He is not advocating starvation here, but drawing
our attention to the dangers (both physical and spiritual) of overeating and
how little food we really need to live.
“ The way most of us approach food and its consumption is fundamentally flawed. We eat for sport, not survival. When we are bored, we eat. When we see food, we eat. When we watch Food Network, we eat. It is very rare we eat when we are hungry and when we do eat we overeat. ”
So what is the correct way of approaching food
consumption? One Prophetic answer to this is fasting.
Fasting was a regular part of the Messenger's
life.
“ He would fast every Monday and Thursday. He would also fast the 13th, 14th and 15th of each month. Once you add them up you get eleven days, or roughly one-third of the month in which the Messenger would fast. ”
When the Messenger was not fasting, he was
"intermittently fasting", eating only once a day. If he ate in
the morning, he would not eat again until the next morning. If he ate at night,
he would not eat until the next night. He once stated, “A believer eats with
one stomach while a nonbeliever eats with seven stomachs." The profound
import of this Prophetic statement points to the importance of rooting even our
food consumption in faith and the Sacred. It is interesting to note that even
ascetics of other religions (such as Buddhist monks) eat one meal a
day. This prophetic advice of fasting and intermittent fasting has even recently
been championed by some contemporary fitness gurus today.
Scientific relation w.r.t. Fasting
- Reduce blood pressure
- Reduce risk of developing cancer
- Decrease oxidative stress
- Protect against degenerative brain diseases
- Increase fat burning
- Improve blood sugar control and appetite control
- Increase sense of well-being
Sunnah of the Beloved Prophet sallalahu alihiwasallam
Eating, like any other act of a Muslim, is a matter of worship when performed according to the Islamic guidelines. The following are SOME of the many food habits that had been practiced and performed by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him):
(1) Never Criticize Any Food
Food
should not be criticized for any reason, despite personal disliking. Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) never
criticized any food that was offered to him.
“The Prophet (PBUH) never criticized any food (he was invited to) but he used to eat it if he liked the food, and leave it if he disliked it.” – Sahih Bukhari
(2) Supplication Before Each Meal
Since eating, like any other act
of a Muslim, is a matter of worship, it begins with the name of Allah.
Muslims are to start their
eating by making the following supplication:
“O Allah! Bless the food You have bestowed upon us and protect us from the torment of hell. In the name of Allah we start.”(OR AT LEAST SAY..Bismillah) – An-Nasa’i
(3) Supplication After Each Meal
After completing the meal,
Muslims praise and thank Allah for the blessing that He bestowed upon them.
After finishing their meal, Muslims say the following supplication:
“Praise be to Allah the One Who gave us the food and the drinks. Praise be to Him Who made us Muslims.”(OR AT LEAST SAY..Al-Humdullilah) – Tirmidhi & Abu Dawud
(4) Eating
Less
One of
the main principles of good health is a balanced diet. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
emphasized the habit of eating less as a method of preventing sickness and
disease. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
“Nothing is worse than a person who fills his stomach. It should be enough for the son of Adam to have a few bites to satisfy his hunger. If he wishes more, it should be: One-third for his food, one-third for his liquids, and one-third for his breath.” – Tirmidhi & Ibn Majah
(5) Eating Slowly
Eating slowly is recommended
for health. Slow eating reduces the consumption of food, as it postpones much
of the meal to a time when the absorption of nutrients begin to produce
physiological signals of satiety.
Slow
eating helps in chewing the food well. This results in the exercise of the jaws
and mixing of the saliva with food. Hence, efficient digestion takes place
because the food particles are cut into smaller pieces, not requiring as much
churning in the stomach or intestine. (less Heartburn)
(6) Moderation
The religion of Islam laid
down the basis of dietary regulations as well as the limits within which Islam
teaches man to enjoy the pleasures of life, including food, in a moderate way,
not becoming a slave to his desires and not losing sight of his ultimate
spiritual goal.
A
Muslim is advised to avoid extremes and to choose a moderate course in all his
affairs, including his eating habits.
“O children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer; eat and drink, but waste not by excess. For Allah loves not the wasters.” – Al- Qur’an, 7:31
(7) Sharing
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH),
demonstrated to his followers the pleasures of sharing as opposed to
over-indulgence in the good things of life. The sharing of food with neighbors,
relatives, friends, the needy, and the destitute is emphasized. Ibn Abbas (May
Allah be pleased with him) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH)
saying:
“He is not a believer who eats to his fill but his neighbor goes without food.” - Sahih Bukhari
Prophet
Muhammad elaborated on the duty of the Muslim to suppress greed, especially in
eating. This appears in a very specific situation reported by Ibn Umar, in
which the Prophet (PBUH) prohibited anyone taking two dates together before
asking permission from his companions (Sahih Bukhari).
(8) Eating Together
Eating
with others bring about harmony
and understanding among people. People are usually more relaxed when eating
in company, this is one reason why families
should always try to eat Together, not to mention this is the Sunnah
of our Beloved Prophet (PBUH) Your
mind is less absorbed in your daily activities and are free of worries. Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) brought the attention of Muslims to the importance of eating
together (Note: ‘Eating together’ here does not imply mixed eating by males and
females at parties or banquets):
“Eat together and not separately,
for the blessing is associated with the company.” – Ibn Majah
It was
also reported that he said,
“I do not eat reclining.” - al-Bukhaari.
“ He used to eat using the first three fingers (of his right hand), which is the best way of eating. ” - Zaad al-Ma’aad, 220-222. And Allah knows best.
The Prophet’s guidance
regarding diet:
The
Prophet (PBUH) used to know
what he was eating. He used
to eat what was good for him.
He
used to eat enough to keep him going, but no so much as to make him fat.
Ibn
‘Umar narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
“The believer eats in one stomach whilst the kaafir eats in seven.” - al-Bukhaari (5081) and Muslim (2060).
THE HOLY PROPHET’S HABITS IN EATING AND DRINKING
·
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) never ate reclining. While taking
meals it is desirable to sit in a manner that the knees are upwards and the
bottom of the feet touches the ground or in a manner that only right knee is
kept upward and the left knee touches the ground making a sitting posture. The
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) as a gesture of courtesy used to keep the inner side of
his left foot over the back of the right foot.
·
Another gesture of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) courtesy was that
he never found fault with the food. If he liked it he ate it, otherwise he did
not touch it but he never passed any remark as to whether it was bad or sour,
or that the salt was not according to taste or that the soup was thin or thick.
[Madarij-un-Nubuwwah]
·
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) used to say Bismillah before beginning
to eat and used to praise Allah at the end. He used to wash his hands before
taking meals, ate with his right hand and from before him. [Zad-ul-Ma’ad]
·
While eating he would never put the whole of his fingers into
the food. His habit was to eat with three fingers, and he used to lick them
clean. In some traditions it occurs that he used to lick the middle finger
first, then the forefinger and after it the thumb. If an item of food was thin,
he would also use the ring finger, but only rarely. [Muslim, Tabrani,
Khasail-e-Nabawi]
·
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) never blew in any food or drink and
considered it to be a bad habit. He did not smell the food and thought it
undesireable. [Nashr-ut-Tib]
·
If there was one item of food only, he would take it from before
him and if there were more items but in one dish, he would extend his hand to
other sides also. After meals he would wash his hands and dry them by rubbing
then together or on the face and head. In one of the reports, drying the hands
on the other parts washed in wudhu has also been mentioned.
·
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) said that one should eat and drink with
his right hand for Satan eats and drinks with the left hand.
[Khasa’il-e-Nabawi]
·
If someone beganeating food without having recited Bismillah,
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) held his hand and commanded him to say Bismillah.
[Zad-ul-Ma’ad]
·
One will not be questioned for a bounty on the Day of Reckoning
which is preceded by Bismillah and followed by Alhamdulillah.
·
Aisha (ra) has related: ‘The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) once said,
“What a nice condiment vinegar is.” Abu Usaid (ra) has related that the Holy
Prophet said : “Use olive oil in food as also for annointing, for this comes
from a blessed tree.” [Shamail-e-Tirmizi]
·
Aisha (ra) has rrelated that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) had a
liking for vinegar, olive oil, sweets and honey. The Holy Prophet is reported to
have eaten chicken, red duck, mutton and flesh of camel. He relished Surid
(bread crumbled and mixed with soup which may have pieces of meat in it). He
also ate black pepper and spices. He is reported to have eaten dates (raw, ripe
or dried)beet and hasa (soup made of flour, water and either oil or clarified
butter/cheese).
·
He used to eat cucumber with dates as Abdullah bin Jafar has
reported on the authority of Aisha (ra) that the Holy Prophet used to eat water
melon with dates and used to say that the heat of the one is broken by the
coolness of the other. He liked cold sweet water. He used to drink water and
milk as well as water obtained from steeped dates from the same cup. [Ibn Sa’d]
·
If the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) ate along with people he was the last
to finish eating. As some people habitually take much time in eating and when
they see others getting up, they feel embarassed and also finish eating. As
such in order to accomodate such persons the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) continued
eating bit by bit till the end. [Zad-ul-Ma’d, Ibn-e-Majah, Baihaqi, Mishkat]
·
When he was in the company of people and wished to give
something to eat or drink, he would hand it over to the one who was sitting on
his right as he thought him to be more rightful. In case he wished to give it
to someone who was sitting on his left then he used to do so with the
permission of the person sitting on his right. [Baukhari, Muslim, Zad-ul-Ma’d]
·
Whenever the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) was invited to a meal and
some uninvited person accompanied him, he would ask permission of the host and
would then keep him in his company. Asma (ra) has related that whenever hot
food was brought to the Prophet (s.a.w.), he would keep it covered until the
force of its steam had gone and used to say that there is great blessing in
cold food. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) did not drink water after taking meals as
it effects digestion adversely. One should not drink water until the food is
nearly digested. [Madari-un-Nubuwwah]
·
He also used to take evening meal even if it comprised of a few
dates. He used to say that giving up evening meal hastens old age. He advised
people not to go to bed immediately after taking meals. (as it increases
sluggishness of heart) Taking rest for a while after forenoon meal is reported
from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.). He used to induce people to be
sparing in diet and to say that let one third of the stomach be for food, one
third for water and one third be left for the stomach itself (breathing).
[Zad-ul-Ma’d]
·
If he found a date or a piece of bread lying in a clean place he
would clean the dirt and eat it. While eating together, an elderly and
respectable person should be requested to begin eating. While eating, if a
morsel falls down, it should be eaten after removing the dirt. It should not be
left for Satan. [Muslim]
·
While taking meals, if someone drops in, he should be requested
to join in. The people at meals should rise only after the cloth (spread for
serving food) is removed. [Ibn-e-Majah]
·
Anas (ra) has related the the Prophet (s.a.w.) used to
breathe three times in the course of a drink and used to say that drinking in
this manner is more acceptable, more thirst quenching and more wholesome. One
should not breathe into the vessel while drinking but should remove his lips
from the cup. [Shamail-e-Tirmizi]
·
Drinking water after taking meals is not the sunnah of the Holy
Perophet (s.a.w.) particularly when the water be warm or intensely cold since
both these are harmful. He did not consider it advisable to drink water being
tired with excercise, after taking food or fruit, after intercourse and after a
bath. He used to drink water while sitting. In authentic traditions, it occurs
that he has forbidden drinking water standing and has even forbidden drinking
with one hand. [Zadul Ma’ad]
·
Ibn Abbas (ra) has related that when brought a bucket of zamzam
water, he drank it while standing. Some have held that drinking while standing
is particular for zamzam and wudhu water. [Zadul Ma’ad]
لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ
اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ
“Certainly there is for you in the Messanger of Allah an excellent example.” [Holy Quran 33 – 21]
Rabbana Taqabbal minna innaka antas-samee-ul aleem, wa tub alaina
innaka antat-tawwabur-raheem. Subhana rabbika rabbil izzati amma yasifoon, wa
salaamun alal mursaleen wal hamdulillahi rabbil alameen. Ameen.