Ramadan Day 9
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The son of Adam cannot fill a vessel worse than his stomach, as it is enough for him to take a few bites to straighten his back. If he cannot do it, then he may fill it with a third of his food, a third of his drink, and a third of his breath.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhi]
Imām as-Shāfiʾī reportedly said that “I have not filled myself in sixteen years because filling oneself makes the body heavy, removes clear understanding, induces sleep and makes one weak for worship.”
Ibn Masawaih, a Muslim doctor, said after reading this ḥadīth: “If the people only used these words, they would avoid all diseases and maladies and the clinics and pharmacies would be idle.”
A man said to Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him): Shouldn’t I bring you some Jawarish? Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him) said: What is that? He said: Something which aids in digesting your food after you eat. Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him) 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.
As for some of the spiritual benefits of eating less, they include; humbleness of heart, strengthening of one’s understanding, lessening of one’s desires and lack of feeling angry, while overeating induces the opposites of all of those.
May Allah make us amongst those who consume food to live in this world, and not make eating and drinking our primary objective. May He make us amongst the strong believers who are upright in their worship and remain steadfast to the Sunnah of the beloved Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him). Āmīn Yā Rabb.
[Excerpts taken from Jāmiʾ al-ʿUlūm wa al-Ḥikam]
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