Islam gibes us guidelines on how, when, and what to eat. There are numerous traditions that warn of the consequences of excessive eating and inform us of the benefits of hunger and eating in small quantities. The Prophet has said that a man whose consumption of food is little has a healthy stomach and a pure heart, and a man whose food is plenty has a sickly stomach and a hard heart.
Time of Eating
A very simple narration of the Prophet that we can always keep in mind: “Eat when you desire and stop while you still desire.” (Bihar al-Anwar)
It is recommended to eat early in the morning, go without food for the whole day, and eat again for the second time after Isha prayers. If this is too difficult, it is a good idea to eat only fruits between breakfast and dinner. According to a reliable tradition, the nephew of Shahab went to Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (A.S) complaining of stomach ache and the heaviness of bowels. The Imam asked him to eat only twice a day – day and night – for Allah has said the same in the praise of food in Heaven: “For those whose abode is Heaven, they will get their food already prepared both times, morning and evening.” (19:62)
Quantity of Food
There are numerous traditions that warn of the consequences of excessive eating and inform us of the benefits of hunger and eating in small quantities.
Imam Ali said that overeating is the greatest aid to acts of disobedience, and that when the stomach is filled with even permissible food, the heart becomes blind to goodness. (Ghurar al-Hikam)
General Recommended Acts
According to Imam Hassan (A.S), every Muslim should keep 12 points in mind regarding food. Four are compulsory, four are recommended, and four pertain to general manners:
The compulsory
To know one’s Giver
To know that all we have is from God and be satisfied with the food He gives
To say “In the name of God (Bismillah)”
To thank Allah
The recommended
To wash one’s hands before eating
To sit by keeping one’s weight to the left side
To eat with at least three fingers
To lick the fingers
The general manners
To eat the food placed before one
To take small morsels
To chew the food
Not to look at others’ faces while eating (Wasael al-Shi’aah)
Drink water
According to Imam Sadiq (A.S), “While drinking water, whoever remembers Imam Hussein and his family members, and invoke the removal of Allah’s Mercy from his murderers and tormentors, 100,000 good deeds will be written in his record, 100,000 sins will be forgiven, he will be elevated 100,000 times, and he will be rewarded to the extent as though he has freed 100,000 slaves in the name of God, and on the Day of Judgment Allah will look towards his welfare.”
source : sibtayn
