Undesirability of Over-Eating

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ فِي كَلَامٍ لَهُ سَيَكُونُ مِنْ بَعْدِي سَنَةٌ يَأْكُلُ الْمُؤْمِنُ فِي مِعَاءٍ وَاحِدٍ وَ يَأْكُلُ الْكَافِرُ فِي سَبْعَةِ أَمْعَاءٍ[1].

“The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, once in one of his speeches said, ‘After me there will come a year when the believing person will eat (an amount needed) for one stomach and the unbelievers will eat (as if needed) for seven stomachs.

كَثْرَةُ الْأَكْلِ مَكْرُوهٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Overeating is undesirable.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ بِئْسَ الْعَوْنُ عَلَى الدِّينِ قَلْبٌ نَخِيبٌ وَ بَطْنٌ رَغِيبٌ وَ نَعْظٌ شَدِيدٌ[1].

‘The most evil companion for religion is a coward heart, very spacious stomach and intense sexual desire.’”

قَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ إِنَّ الْبَطْنَ لَيَطْغَى مِنْ أَكْلِهِ وَ أَقْرَبُ مَا يَكُونُ الْعَبْدُ مِنَ اللَّهِ جَلَّ وَ عَزَّ إِذَا خَفَّ بَطْنُهُ وَ أَبْغَضُ مَا يَكُونُ الْعَبْدُ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِذَا امْتَلَأَ بَطْنُهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘O abu Muhammad, the stomach becomes excessive in its eating. A servant is nearest to Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, when his stomach is empty and light. The most hated condition of a servant to Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, is when his stomach is full.’”

قَالَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَطْوَلُكُمْ جُشَاءً[2] فِي الدُّنْيَا أَطْوَلُكُمْ جُوعاً فِي الْآخِرَةِ أَوْ قَالَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

The one among you with the longest belching will be hungry for the longest time on the Day of Judgment.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا تَجَشَّأْتُمْ فَلَا تَرْفَعُوا جُشَاءَكُمْ.

‘Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘When you belch then do not make it loud.’”

الْأَكْلُ عَلَى الشِّبَعِ يُورِثُ الْبَرَصَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Eating on a full stomach can cause leprosy (albinism).”’

كُلُّ دَاءٍ مِنَ التُّخَمَةِ مَا خَلَا الْحُمَّى فَإِنَّهَا تَرِدُ وُرُوداً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’Every illness is because of overeating except, fever (infection) which enters the body.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُبْغِضُ كَثْرَةَ الْأَكْلِ وَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَيْسَ لِابْنِ آدَمَ بُدٌّ مِنْ أَكْلَةٍ يُقِيمُ بِهَا صُلْبَهُ فَإِذَا أَكَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ طَعَاماً فَلْيَجْعَلْ ثُلُثَ بَطْنِهِ لِلطَّعَامِ وَ ثُلُثَ‌ بَطْنِهِ لِلشَّرَابِ وَ ثُلُثَ بَطْنِهِ لِلنَّفَسِ وَ لَا تَسَمَّنُوا تَسَمُّنَ الْخَنَازِيرِ لِلذَّبْحِ.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, hates overeating.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Children of Adam must eat to keep their backs straight. When one of you eats keep one-third of your stomach for food one-third for water and one-third for breathing and never become fat like pigs

إِذَا شَبِعَ الْبَطْنُ طَغَى.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘When the stomach is full it rebels.’”

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ مَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ أَبْغَضَ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْ بَطْنٍ مَمْلُوءٍ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Nothing walks as hated in the sight of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, as a full stomach.’”