Five Islamic principles of eating

A believer does everything in life to seek Allah’s pleasure. Even his everyday needs become acts of worship when he fulfils them with the intention of pleasing Allah.

Eating is one such necessity. A believer eats to remain healthy and strong so that he can fulfil the rights of Allah, the rights of other people and his own rights. He also follows the guidance of Allah and His Messenger while eating.

Five principles of eating

Islam sets out five key principles for a believer when it comes to food:

1. Eat halal and wholesome food

A believer should choose halal and tayyib, or wholesome, food.

Tayyib refers to food that is halal, pure, pleasant, healthy and suitable to one’s taste. The Holy Quran says: “O messengers, eat from the good things and do righteous deeds.” (Surah Al-Mu’minun, verse 51)

In another verse, Allah says: “O mankind, eat from whatever is lawful and wholesome on earth.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 168)

Allah has prohibited believers from consuming impure, unlawful and harmful foods.

The Quran says: “He makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil things.” (Surah Al-A’raf, verse 157)

2. Eat healthy food

A believer should remain mindful of his health when choosing food. He should avoid anything that may harm his health.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) urged people to protect their health, saying: “Take advantage of five before five: your health before your illness...” (Al-Mustadrak lil-Hakim, Hadith 7916)

Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As (RA) said that when the Prophet (PBUH) learned that he continuously fasted during the day and prayed throughout the night, he told him not to do so. The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Indeed, your eyes have a right over you and your body has a right over you.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 182)

3. Eat in moderation

Islam teaches moderation in every aspect of life, including eating. It does not permit either stinginess despite having sufficient means or excessive eating that harms the body.

Islam teaches believers to eat moderately without waste or extravagance. Allah says: “Eat and drink, but do not be excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess.” (Surah Al-A’raf, verse 31)

Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) explained wastefulness in eating by saying: “It is sufficient for a person to be wasteful that he turns everything he desires into something to consume.” (Kitab al-Zuhd, Hadith 123)

Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) said that Allah has made eating and drinking lawful as long as they do not involve wastefulness or pride. (Tafsir al-Tabari, 5/472)

4. Eat simple food

Islam encourages people to remain content with simple and readily available food. It does not encourage excessive preoccupation with food or a life of luxury and indulgence.

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself ate simple food. He gratefully ate whatever was available and thanked Allah for it.

Jabir (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) asked his family for a side dish. They said they had nothing except vinegar. He asked them to bring it. He then began eating with it and said: “How excellent a condiment vinegar is.” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2051)

5. Be content with little rather than filling the stomach

A believer does not overeat simply because food is available. Nor does he become disappointed when there is not enough food to fill his stomach. Instead, he remains content with what he has.

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “The food of two is sufficient for three, and the food of three is sufficient for four.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 5392)

Explaining the hadith, Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (RA) said that its meaning is that the amount of food sufficient to satisfy one person can remove the hunger of two people, while the amount sufficient for two people can serve as food for four. (Fath al-Bari, 9/446)

May Allah grant everyone a proper understanding of the deen. Ameen.