Bismihi Ta`ala
*THE SUNNAH DIET.*
Our beloved prophet Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam came with solution on all aspects of our life. Be it social, political or individual. In fact, he is a perfect model to facilitate anyone who wish to attain success by the people and by God. His good character enchant a whole nation that took his character banner to conquer the world. His generosity still marvel the present leaders. His physique was a perfection. His companions used to sit and look at him admiring his perfection. His wives used to take help from his glimmering face to look for lost needles in the house. He had a fit body and a charismatic approach. He was at a time a just husband and a romantic lover to his wives. A compassionate father and used to play with children. He was soft and approachable down to earth such that a child will take him by his hands to show him the sand home that the child made. Behind these softness lies a courageous man that can affront the enemy even if left alone on the battle field. The beloved prophet Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam had a perfect body. He had no belly. He used to control his food consumption so that to him fit for `ibaadah, his personnal life and to promote the deen of Allah. He said : The worst thing to fill for a man is his stomach. Food consumption should only to give force to stand up and live normal. If one need to consume then one third stomach for food, one third for drinks and leave one third empty for air.(Tirmizi)
وَحَبِيبُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ جَابِرٍ الطَّائِيِّ عَنْ مِقْدَامِ بْنِ مَعْدِي كَرِبَ قَالَسَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ مَا مَلَأَ آدَمِيٌّ وِعَاءً شَرًّا مِنْ بَطْنٍ بِحَسْبِ ابْنِ آدَمَ أُكُلَاتٌ يُقِمْنَ صُلْبَهُ فَإِنْ كَانَ لَا مَحَالَةَ فَثُلُثٌ لِطَعَامِهِ وَثُلُثٌ لِشَرَابِهِ وَثُلُثٌ لِنَفَسِهِترمذي
For iftaar, after hours of hunger, he used to only eat a few rutab dates or if unavailable then he would drink some water and pray maghrib.(Abu Dawood)
حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ حَدَّثَنَا ثَابِتٌ الْبُنَانِيُّ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ يَقُولُكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُفْطِرُ عَلَى رُطَبَاتٍ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ رُطَبَاتٌ فَعَلَى تَمَرَاتٍ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ حَسَا حَسَوَاتٍ مِنْ مَاءٍابو داود When through His effort, wealth reached his companions, he chose optionally his life of hunger until his last breath. This was optional. An optional famine. Reported in Bukhari that when Rasouloullah SAW left this world, then there was only water and dates in the house of Rasouloullah SAW.
حدثنا وهيب حدثنا منصور عن أمه عن عائشة رضي الله عنهاتوفي النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم حين شبعنا من الأسودين التمر والماءبخاري Hazrat Aisha r.a. recalls that for months Rasouloullah SAW houses used to go on famine living on water, dates and milk from the ansaars.(bukhari)
حدثني ابن أبي حازم عن أبيه عن يزيد بن رومان عن عروة عن عائشة أنها قالتلعروة ابن أختي إن كنا لننظر إلى الهلال ثلاثة أهلة في شهرين وما أوقدت في أبيات رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم نار فقلت ما كان يعيشكم قالت الأسودان التمر والماء إلا أنه قد كان لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم جيران من الأنصار كان لهم منائح وكانوا يمنحون رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من أبياتهم فيسقيناهبخاري
Once a traveller went to seek food from the house of Rasouloullah SAW. All his wives answered behind the curtain that ‘’There is absolutely nothing in the house to provide for you.’’ The leader of Arabs and the last prophet had famine in all his 9 houses and yet he would conceal this fact from his fellow muslims companions. And yet he cared of strangers coming to Madinah and used to send them food by his companions. And afterwards he would go sleep hungry himself. This is the model that arabs was marvelled that made them sacrifice their lives on his command. Bi Abi anta wa Ummi! May everything be sacrificed for thee. and their He cared for someone who had no food and sent him to look for A famine happening in 9 houses of their prophet and leader and yet no one in Madinah knew about it. This Reported by those close companion of the prophet that there was not enough food in the house of Rasouloullah to fill the stomach.(Muslim)
عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ و قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّادٍ وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ بِيَدِهِ مَا أَشْبَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَهْلَهُ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ تِبَاعًا مِنْ خُبْزِ حِنْطَةٍ حَتَّى فَارَقَ الدُّنْيَامسلم The beloved prophet SAW used to avoid filling the stomach even in the presence of food. And he used to say that filling the stomach invite sicknesses. Seeing someone with a protruded belly, Rasouloullah SAW told him that this fat would be better elsewhere than here. (Ahmad)That is it would be better that we develop our muscle and has a protruded arm muscle rather than having a belly.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ أَبَا إِسْرَائِيلَ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ جَعْدَةَ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَرَأَى رَجُلًا سَمِينًا، فَجَعَلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُومِئُ إِلَى بَطْنِهِ بِيَدِهِ، وَيَقُولُ: ” لَوْ كَانَ هَذَا فِي غَيْرِ هَذَا لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَكَاحمدOnce Rasouloullah SAW saw hazrat Aisha r.a. eating to her fill. He warned her of transgressing the limits and indulging in waste. Allah Ta`ala don`t like those who go over the limits.(Shu`abul imaan)
عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: رَآنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَأَنَا آكُلُ فِي يَوْمٍ مَرَّتَيْنِ فَقَالَ: ” يَا عَائِشَةُ اتَّخَذَتِ الدُّنْيَا بَطْنَكَ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَكْلَةٍ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ سَرَفٌ ، وَاللهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَشعب الايمان Rasouloullah SAW was referring to this ayah as transgressing the limits: وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ Eat and drink and do not be extravagant. Surely, He does not like the extravagant.(7:31) Once Hazrat Abu Juhayfah r.a. burped in front of Rasouloullah SAW. Rasouloullah SAW told him that keep your burp away from us. Know that those who ate their fill more in this dunya will face longer hunger on the day of qiyamah. From that day Abu jahayfah used to eat only once daily: either a lunch or a dinner.(Shu`abul Imaan)
ثَنَا مِقْدَامُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ، ثَنَا أَسَدُ بْنُ مُوسَى، ثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ الْجَزَرِيُّ، عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَاجٍ، عَنْ عَوْنِ بْنِ أَبِي جُحَيْفَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: أَكَلْتُ ثَرِيدَ بُرٍّ وَلَحْمًا، فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَأَنَا أَتَجَشَّأُ فَقَالَ: ” اكْفُفْ أَوِ احْبِسْ عَنَّا مِنْ جُشَائِكَ يَا أَبَا جُحَيْفَةَ فَإِنَّ أَكْثَرَكُمْ شِبَعًا فِي الدُّنْيَا، أَطْوَلُكُمْ جُوعًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ” قَالَ: فَمَا أَكَلَ أَبُو جُحَيْفَةَ مِلْءَ بَطْنِهِ، حَتَّى فَارَقَ الدُّنْيَا، كَانَ إِذَا تَعَشَّى، لَمْ يَتَغَدَّ، وَإِذَا تَغَدَّ لَمْ يَتَعَشَّشعب الايمان Once Hazrat Umar r.a. said that we should avoid having protruding bellies. Because it create laziness for ibaadah and is detrimental for health. Be moderate in eating as it is best for the body… (Suyuti/Kanz)
وأخرج أبو نعيم عن عمر بن الخطاب قال : إياكم والبطنة في الطعام والشراب فإنها مفسدة للجسد ، مورثة للسقم ، مكسلة عن الصلاة ، وعليكم بالقصد فيهما فإنه أصلح للجسد ، وأبعد من السرف ، وأن الله تعالى ليبغض الحبر السمين ، وإن الرجل لن يهلك حتى يؤثر شهوته على دينهكنز الايمان In fact, hunger used to torment Rasouloullah SAW so much that once Rasouloullah SAW read salaah sitting because of the pangs of hunger.(Shu`abul Imaan)
عن أبى هريرة قال : دخلت على النبى – صلى الله عليه وسلم – وهو يصلى جالسا فقلت يا رسول الله أراك تصلى جالسا فما أصابك قال الجوع يا أبا هريرة فبكيت قال لا تبك فإن شدة القيامة لا تصيب الجائع إذا احتسب شعب لايمان In fact many a times hunger brought Sahabahs r.a. to sit down in Masjid. Once Abu Talha r.a. noticed that Rasouloullah SAW has gone weak and that weakness has come visible on his face. He then hurried home to prepare food.(Bukhari) In fact Rasouloullah SAW used to ask protection from excessive ‘’hunger’’ because it torments.
عَنْ ابْنِ عَجْلَانَ عَنْ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْجُوعِ فَإِنَّهُ بِئْسَ الضَّجِيعُ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْخِيَانَةِ فَإِنَّهَا بِئْسَتِ الْبِطَانَةُابو داود
Hazrat Abu Hureirah r.a. later tell us that hunger used to make him fell and people will think that he is epileptic. All this to tell you that the sacrifice of hunger brought this Ummah in shape. Ulamas explain that the optional hunger of Umar r.a. contribute to the rapid conquest of the continents. When taxes was asked to some non muslims during the time of children of Sahabahs, they refused to give the tabi`ees. They told them :’’Bring those thin pious persons before you and we will give them.’’(thin pious referring to Sahabahs) You see the sacrifice of hunger bring a force in a person. Like fasting is a forceful shield. That is why Rasouloullah SAW opted for the way of one day hunger and one day food instead of Valleys of Makkah in gold. One day hunger that will humble me. Then the other day having food to thank Allah.(Tirmizi)
وَبِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِعَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ عَرَضَ عَلَيَّ رَبِّي لِيَجْعَلَ لِي بَطْحَاءَ مَكَّةَ ذَهَبًا قُلْتُ لَا يَا رَبِّ وَلَكِنْ أَشْبَعُ يَوْمًا وَأَجُوعُ يَوْمًا وَقَالَ ثَلَاثًا أَوْ نَحْوَ هَذَا فَإِذَا جُعْتُ تَضَرَّعْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَذَكَرْتُكَ وَإِذَا شَبِعْتُ شَكَرْتُكَ وَحَمِدْتُكَقَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌترمذي The beloved prophet SAW used to ask protection against laziness, depression and also from a insatiable body.(Muslim)
وَعَنْ أَبِي عُثْمَانَ النَّهْدِيِّ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَرْقَمَ قَالَلَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِلَّا كَمَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ كَانَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ وَالْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْهَرَمِ وَعَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ اللَّهُمَّ آتِ نَفْسِي تَقْوَاهَا وَزَكِّهَا أَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا أَنْتَ وَلِيُّهَا وَمَوْلَاهَا اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لَا يَنْفَعُ وَمِنْ قَلْبٍ لَا يَخْشَعُ وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لَا تَشْبَعُ وَمِنْ دَعْوَةٍ لَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهَامسلم
All this to discourage us to fill the stomach next sitting for food. We should eat moderately such that we stop whereby we still wish to eat. And avoid fatness in body to be fit for ibaadah and daily activities. Finally, we are aware that some people are fat naturally and can`t get thinner even during Ramadhaan. So you be thin and think for others good that it is their nature. For example hazrat Usamah r.a. had a belly(Muslim):
فَقَالَ سَعْدٌ وَأَنَا وَاللَّهِ لَا أَقْتُلُ مُسْلِمًا حَتَّى يَقْتُلَهُ ذُو الْبُطَيْنِ يَعْنِي أُسَامَةَمسلم
So let`s come to the asl sunnah diet. Advise others when not eating time. Try to get thinner and more fit yourself. Fast nafil a lot with light iftaars. Advise others with good words and encouragement to lose their bellies. Else overlook the belly of others because it may be their nature.
Mufti Mackoojee+23057921333