What does Islam day about Eating Heathy

From an Islamic perspective health is viewed as one of the greatest blessings that Allah has bestowed on mankind. It should be noted that the greatest blessing after belief is health.

Health is indeed a favour that we take for granted. We should express gratitude to Allah for bestowing us with health, and we should try our utmost to look after it. Allah has entrusted us with our bodies for a predestined period of time. He will hold us to account on how we looked after and utilised our bodies and health.

Islam’s holistic approach to health includes treating our bodies with respect and nourishing them with, not only faith, but also with lawful, nutritious food. A major part of living life according to the Allah’s instructions is implementing a suitable Eating Heathy. Choosing wholesome food and avoiding the unwholesome is essential to good health.

The Quran contains many verses of advice about healthy eating that relate to the interconnectedness of physical and spiritual health. Encouragement to eat only good and pure food is often combined with warnings to remember Allah and avoid Shaytaan. Healthy eating not only satisfies hunger but also has an effect on how well we worship

Allah says in the Quran,

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُلُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا رَزَقْنَـٰكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لِلَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ

“Eat of the good things which We have provided for you.”

(Quran 2:172)

The word ‘Tayyib’ just not refers to Halaal but rather Pure, And good for ones Health.eg our beloved mothers home food.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ كُلُوا۟ مِمَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ حَلَـٰلًۭا طَيِّبًۭ

“Eat of what is lawful and wholesome on the earth.”

(Quran 2:168)

True believers need healthy bodies and minds in order to worship Allah in the correct way. To maintain a sound mind, a pure heart and a healthy body special attention must be paid to health. The heart and the mind are nourished by remembrance of Allah, and worship performed in a lawful way, and the body is nourished by partaking of the good and lawful food Allah has provided.

Do we Live to Eat, or Eat to Live?

Islam emphasizes the concept of moderation in eating. Muslims are expected to eat for survival, to maintain good health, and not to live for eating. Moderation in dietary habits can help people to lead healthy and balanced lives. Modern research has proven that excessive eating and improper diet can increase the chance of diseases such as obesity, high cholesterol, heart diseases, and diabetes.

With regards to food, as with many other subjects in Islam, prevention is better than cure. Therefore, overeating has been strongly discouraged in the Qur’an and Sunnah.

وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ

Eat and drink, but do not waste. Surely He does not like the wasteful.

[ Quran7:31]

The Best of Teachers and the Mercy of the Worlds (saw) is reported to have clarified the meaning and limit of healthy eating moderation in a tradition in which he is reported to have said that one’s worst weakness is one’s belly. If you must eat make sure you fill one third of your stomach with food, one third with water and leave one third for air i.e. leave it empty.

In another narration, the reason for moderation has been clearly stated. The Prophet (SAW) is reported to have said:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الْمَعِدَةُ حَوْضُ الْبَدَنِ وَالْعُرُوقُ إِلَيْهَا وَارِدَةٌ فَإِذَا صَحَّتِ الْمَعِدَةُ صَدَرَتِ الْعُرُوقُ بِالصِّحَّةِ وَإِذَا فَسَدَتِ الْمَعِدَةُ صَدَرَتِ الْعُرُوقُ بِالسقمِ»

“The stomach is the tank of the body and the veins go down to it. When the stomach is healthy the veins come back in a healthy condition, but when it is in a bad condition, they return diseased.”

( Mishkat al-Masabih 4566)

In another Hadeeth Nabi (SAW) says:

“A believer eats in one intestine (is satisfied with a little food), and a kafir (unbeliever) eats in seven intestines (eats much food).”

(Al-Bukhari 5393)

When does Healthy Eating begins?

Healthy eating or oral intake begins from birth. For newborns in Islam, similar to the field of medicine, breastmilk is given as soon as birth. In the Holy Quran, it is recommended for the mother to breastfeed their child for two years if it is possible for them. Moreover, it is the right of every new-born infant to be breastfed. Allah says in Surah Baqrah. وَٱلْوَٰلِدَٰتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلَٰدَهُنَّ حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ ۖ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُتِمَّ ٱلرَّضَاعَةَ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلْمَوْلُودِ لَهُۥ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ .

Mothers may breastfeed their children two complete years for whoever wishes to complete the nursing [period]

(Quran 2:233)

From this we learn Allah emphasizes one point relating to the healthy eating of babies from birth, that they should be given the Best of all nutrition healthy eating and that’s is the child’s mothers milk, for the durations of 2 years.

In short, believers are advised to always take care of their health and refrain from foods and practices that might pollute the stomach with various diseases and rather eat what’s healthy.

Tomorrow we will discuss what types of food are healthy in the sight of Quran & Hadeeth.