Bismihi Ta`ala
THE GIFT OF ISLAM.
Allah Ta`ala has blessed us with a religion that not only look after our(Aakhirah) hereafter`s well being, but also prescribe for this life the best moderated morals, physical conduct, etiquettes, medical advices and diet. In fact, Islam is the complete and the most ideal religion on the surface of this earth:
5:3
حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةُ وَالدَّمُ وَلَحْمُ الْخِنْزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ بِهِ وَالْمُنْخَنِقَةُ وَالْمَوْقُوذَةُ وَالْمُتَرَدِّيَةُ وَالنَّطِيحَةُ وَمَا أَكَلَ السَّبُعُ إِلَّا مَا ذَكَّيْتُمْ وَمَا ذُبِحَ عَلَى النُّصُبِ وَأَنْ تَسْتَقْسِمُوا بِالْأَزْلَامِ ذَلِكُمْ فِسْقٌ الْيَوْمَ يَئِسَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ دِينِكُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَاخْشَوْنِ الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ فِي مَخْمَصَةٍ غَيْرَ مُتَجَانِفٍ لِإِثْمٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ (3)
‘‘Prohibited for you are: carrion, blood, the flesh of swine, and those upon which (a name) other than that of Allah has been invoked (at the time of slaughter), animal killed by strangulation, or killed by a blow, or by a fall, or by goring, or that which is eaten by a beast unless you have properly slaughtered it; and that which has been slaughtered before the idols, and that you determine shares through the arrows. (All of) this is sin. Today those who disbelieve have lost all hope of (damaging) your faith. So, do not fear them, and fear Me. Today, I have perfected your religion for you, and have completed My blessing upon you, and chosen Islam as Din (religion and a way of life) for you. But whoever is compelled by extreme hunger, having no inclination towards sin, 8 then Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.’’
(5:3)
Before announcing that ‘’Today, I have perfected Islam for you, and I have completed my favour upon you…’’, Allah Ta`ala mentioned the impermissible for consumption: Animals dead by natural death, raw blood, pig, whatever slaughtered with the name of Allah, animals not slaughtered and died by brutality, animals killed in sacrifice of idols and whatever sacrificed on rituals.’’ This ayah push the idealism of Islam in the world public after mentioning the etiquettes of eating. Because the etiquettes of living of Islam push Muslims on Top list as per health rating and way of living.
Lately, a honest research from medical researchers published that the Muslim countries of middle east have less cancer rates, compared to the rest of the world. They mentioned:
‘’…to explain the significant decreased incidence of cancer in the Arab countries, among them fasting, food full of special recipes filled with spices, significant lower rates of smoking and alcohol drinking, and genetic predisposition.’’
So fasting is not only for Taqwa, pierce sexual drive, feel the hunger of the poor, but also to enhance our health. Amongst the factors that diminish cancer occurrence are all the things that Allah Ta`ala has made haraam: alcohol and having unsafe sex. Also Allah Ta`ala has prescribed moderation in eating appetite and Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam used to hate bulged belly and obesity. In fact, obesity and disordered diets cause cancer and other diseases. Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam said: ‘’The human does not fill any container that is worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat what will support his back. If this is not possible, then a third for food, a third for drink, and third for his breath.”(Tirmizi)
سنن الترمذي – (8 / 387)
حَدَّثَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَعِيلُ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ الْحِمْصِيُّ وَحَبِيبُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ جَابِرٍ الطَّائِيِّ عَنْ مِقْدَامِ بْنِ مَعْدِي كَرِبَ قَالَ
سَمِعْتُ 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 لِنَفَسِهِ
Once Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam saw a boy eating too much. So He told him: ‘’Eating a lot bring bad omens’’(Shu`abul imaan)
شعب الإيمان – (7 / 455)
أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو سَعْدٍ الْمَالِينِيُّ، أَنَا أَبُو أَحْمَدَ بْنُ عَدِيٍّ الْحَافِظُ، ثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ الصُّوفِيُّ، ثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْجَعْدِ، أَنَا أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ، أَظُنُّهُ قَالَ: -[456]- الشَّيْبَانِيُّ، عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ طَحْلَاءَ، عَنْ أَبِي الرِّجَالِ، عَنْ عَمْرَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، أَرَادَ أَنْ يَشْتَرِيَ غُلَامًا، فَأَلْقَى بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ تَمْرًا، فَأَكَلَ الْغُلَامُ فَأَكْثَرَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ” إِنَّ كَثْرَةَ الْأَكْلِ شُؤْمٌ ” وَأَمَرَ بَرَدِّهِ قَالَ أَبُو أَحْمَدَ: ” أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ الشَّيْبَانِيُّ هَذَا هُوَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ ابْنُ هَرَاسَةَ، كَنَّاهُ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْجَعْدِ لِضَعْفِهِ، وَلِئَلَّا يُعْرَفَ، وَهَذَا الْحَدِيثُ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ، لَا أَعْلَمُ يَرْوِيهِ غَيْرُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ابْنِ هَرَاسَةَ “
جامع الأحاديث – السيوطي – (9 / 142)
8098 – إن كثرة الأكل شؤم (البهقى فى شعب الإيمان وضعف عن عائشة)
Meaning that eating lot bring sickness, laziness, no will power for ibaadah, no early waking up for Tahajud and body become busy in digesting of what eaten leaving less time for other deeni work.
Once Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam saw Hazrat Aisha ra eating twice a day. He told her: ‘’Have you no other good deeds to do in this world other than filling your belly? Eating twice a day is ‘’Israaf/going above limits”. And Allah Ta`ala dislike those who cross the limits’’(Baihaqi)
الدر المنثور في التأويل بالمأثور – السيوطي – (4 / 218)
وأخرج البيهقي وضعفه عن عائشة قالت « رآني النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وقد أكلت في اليوم مرتين ، فقال : يا عائشة أما تحبين أن يكون لك شغل إلا في جوفك؟ الأكل في اليوم مرتين من الإِسراف ، والله لا يحب المسرفين » .
We should eat enough for what we spend in energy, get proper sleep and energy for ibaadahs and career.
Allah Ta`ala ordered in the Qur-aan: ‘’ O children of ‘Adam, take on your adornment at every Masjid(Salaah/Tawaaf). Eat and drink and do not be extravagant(Israaf). Surely, He does not like the extravagant.’’(7:31)
[سورة الأعراف (7): آية 31]
يا بَنِي آدَمَ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِنْدَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا وَلا تُسْرِفُوا إِنَّهُ لا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ (31))
And Islam prevented lifelong wastage of futile expenses on narcotics, wine, gambling and speculating spectators of sports. I know people who reverted only because they lost their family and wealth due to these vices.
سنن ابن ماجه – (11 / 472)
حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ شُعَيْبِ بْنِ شَابُورَ حَدَّثَنَا الْأَوْزَاعِيُّ عَنْ قُرَّةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ حَيْوَئِيلَ عَنْ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنْ حُسْنِ إِسْلَامِ الْمَرْءِ تَرْكُهُ مَا لَا يَعْنِيهِ
Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam said: ‘’From amongst the beauty of someone`s Islam is to leave whatever do not concern him.’’(Ibn Majah)
Sitting in a stadium and shouting on something that will not benefit neither your dunya nor your akhirah and is a pure wastage of time and energy and ugliness.
And finally, look after your mental and physical health dears. Eat badams(almonds), drink mild hot water with honey at fasting stomach, figs, olives, put oil on head and body and also choose fruitful dates like Ajwa, Barni and Black seed, cupping and burn `Oud in the room.
I met Mufti Ayoob Jina in Madinah Munawarah and Alhamdulillah he has a few medication from the Sunnah that he researched from the ahadiths. Amongst them Qustul Hindi, Qustul Bahri, pure organic Talbina, Shifa earth cup, etc. I would recommend those going Umrah to visit him and benefit from him. Many have benefitted from him: +966 54 477 3131.
Because health is a great wealth that should be well protected. Rasouloullah Swalallahou Alaihi Wasallam said: ‘’Two great favours that many of people don`t take care of: Health and free time.’’(Bukhari)
صحيح البخاري – (20 / 33)
أخبرنا عبد الله بن سعيد هو ابن أبي هند عن أبيه عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال
قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم نعمتان مغبون فيهما كثير من الناس الصحة والفراغ
Mufti Mackoojee