In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
The health consequences of being overweight are many, and they are serious. Here is a partial list: hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart attacks, heart failure, type II diabetes, stroke, gallstones, gout, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and some types of cancer (such as breast, prostate and colon).
We, with some exceptions, and as a society, are getting fat, and getting fat rapidly. Why now, and why so rapidly? There is no single answer to these questions.
According to one health expert, one conclusion with some certainty is that it isn't just our genes - it's what we're doing (or not doing). While it appears that, at least in some individuals, there is a genetic predisposition to obesity, genes clearly do not explain the rapid increase in obesity we are now seeing in our human population. After all, we have not had a sudden change in human genetic makeup over the last 20 years. The only logical explanation for this rapid fattening is in our lifestyles, and in what we are eating. And these two factors have changed recently.
We are less active than our parents once were. Internet, satellite TV, video games, automation, on line shopping, on line schools and learning, automation, are ever more prevalent, and unless we make a specific effort to exercise, it is all too easy for many of us to live completely sedentary lives. Apparently, we are. Also, there is no doubt that our diet isn't what it once was. We are eating more highly processed foods, and more fast foods, most of which are loaded with sugars, fats, and a new culprit - trans-fatty acids.
In any case, it is now impossible to avoid the conclusion that our lifestyle and our diet are unhealthful.
So what can we do with our extra weight? There are only two ways to reduce your weight: increase your activity, or decrease your caloric intake and remove certain foods and drinks from your diet. Either method implies a change in lifestyle; hence the difficulty most people have to lose weight and keep it off. But, unless a lot more people make these tough choices, there won't be enough healthy people around 20 years from now to care for the rest of the unhealthy people. Even now you hear more and more young people who suffer chronic back aches and much fatigue.
Most people who lose weight and keep it off find that they have to make a conscious commitment to a new lifestyle, one that includes more physical activity and eating healthy and balanced diet.
Remember, a Muslim eats to live, not vice versa. Heedlessly indulging in blessings, in complete oblivion to the purpose of one’s life and the wisdom in being given these blessings, turns blessings into a curse, and a door to Allah into a barrier from Him. Moderation is essential. So, we eat moderately. We don't eat everything we desire; this is wastefulness. We don't eat purely to satisfy our lust; this will lead to being denied wisdom. Full stomachs are not homes to wisdom.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,
“There is no container that the son of Adam fills worse than the stomach. Morsels that keep his back upright are sufficient for the son of Adam. If he must do more, then a third for his food, a third for his drink and a third for his breath.” (ibn Hibban)
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was once informed of a man who would eat a lot when he was a non Muslim and ate only a little after he converted, and he said,
“The believer eats from one intestine and the disbeliever eats from seven intestines.” (Bukhari)
Eating and drinking come under the following categories:
1. Obligatory -- This is the amount needed to ward off death and to enable one to offer the prayers standing [and fulfill one’s other obligations].
2. Recommended -- This is the amount that enables one to undertake recommended acts of worship, and teaching and studying sacred knowledge.
3. Permissible -- This is the eating up to one’s fill to increase one’s strength.
4. Disliked -- This is eating above the fill slightly to a degree that does not harm one.
5. Forbidden -- This is eating above one’s fill unless it is for the intention of strengthening oneself for a fast or so that one’s guest is not ashamed to eat or the like.
May Allah give us success. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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