Maintaining a healthy diet
Question:-
Do you know of any verses or Ahadith related to food groups, eating healthy or balanced diets?
Answer:-
In various verses of the Quraan Sharif, we have been instructed to eat Halaal and wholesome food. Some of these verses have been recorded below:
1. “O you who have Imaan! Eat from the pure and wholesome things which we have provided for you and show gratitude to Allah if it is indeed Him whom you worship.” (2:172)
2. “O people! Eat of the lawful and pure things of the earth, and do not follow in the footsteps of Shaytaan. Indeed, he is your open enemy.” (2:168)
We understand from these verses of the Quraan Sharif that the food that we eat should be Halaal. Haraam food harms a person physically and spiritually, to the extent that the Aakhirah of a person is destroyed.
Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said:
مَا مَلَأَ آدَمِيٌّ وِعَاءً شَرًّا مِنْ بَطْنٍ بِحَسْبِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لُقَيْمَاتٍ يُقِمْنَ صُلْبَهُ فَإِنْ كَانَ لَا مَحَالَةَ فَثُلُثٌ لِطَعَامِهِ وَثُلُثٌ لِشَرَابِهِ وَثُلُثٌ لِنَفَسِهِ (ترمذي وابن ماجة)
No human being has ever filled a container worse than the stomach. A few morsels of food is sufficient for the son of Adam to keep his back straight. If it is necessary to eat then a third should be for food, a third for drink and a third for breathing.
The above narration is truly the prescription for a healthy diet. If a person controls the intake of food, then he will always remain healthy. On the contrary if one overeats, then this is the root to unlimited illnesses. If the stomach is in optimum health, then the entire body will be healthy, and to the contrary, if the stomach is dysfunctional, then the entire body will be affected. In fact, it has been proven that fasting is extremely beneficial for good health. It is recorded in a narration that a person who fasts during the month of Ramadaan, and the 13th, 14th and 15th of every Islamic month, will remain healthy for the entire year. Unfortunately, today people eat all the time, whereas a person should eat only when he is hungry. This is another cause to unlimited illnesses. Also, the food that we eat is not wholesome and healthy. Rather, we consume more unhealthy food in comparison to healthy food. Our intake of fresh fruit, vegetables, the various type of lentils/Dhals, nuts, almonds, etc. is extremely limited, whilst our consumption of commercial chickens, beef, chocolates, biscuits, crisps, etc. have increased tremendously. Meat should be consumed just twice or thrice a week, and fresh vegetables should be consumed for the rest of the week. In this way the diet of a person will be balanced. It is not proven from any narration that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam consumed beef, hence, the intake of beef should be extremely limited. Doctors also advise that the intake of red meat should be limited. Chickens increase heat in the body, hence, it should be consumed in moderation. It is best to consume the farm chickens or, organic chickens and eggs. Goat’s meat and milk is extremely beneficial yet very few people consume this variant nowadays.
It is recorded in Shamaa’il-e-Tirmidhi that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam would utilize olive oil. The olive is mentioned in the Quraan Sharif and is extremely beneficial. Many doctors recommend the usage of olive oil and coconut oil for cooking.
Apple-cider vinegar has numerous health benefits and is highly recommended by dieticians. A teaspoon of the vinegar in a cup of warm water should be consumed every morning, which is a treatment for various ailments. Vinegar is also discussed in the Hadith Sharif.
There are certain foods that provide coolness for the body, whilst others are a means of heat for the body. If a person with a cold temperament consumes cold items, then he will contract a flu very quickly. In such instances, Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam would break the coolness with such food items that provided heat for body. The commentators of Hadith explain that cucumber has a cold effect while dates have a hot effect on the body. By consuming dates with cucumbers, a balance is created. Also, cucumber is insipid or tasteless while dates are sweet, which result in the cucumber also tasting sweet.
Similarly, watermelon has a cooling effect on the body and dates have a hot effect, thus Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam would consume watermelon with dates. These are some of the things that have been discussed in the Quraan and Hadith.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 26 Shawwal 1444 / 17 May 2023