the main causative factors of obesity are:
1. over eating and drinking
2. less exercise and activity
3. emotional stresses
These are main factors that cause obesity and consequently
cause dangerous disease like heart diseases, diabetes, blood pressure and
cancer. But what about the Islamic teachings which was revealed 1400 years ago?
Allah, the Almighty, had specified a golden rule in diet
as He said: "and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He
(Allâh) likes not Al-Musrifûn (those who waste by extravagance)" (31: Al A
'raf.). The most dangerous thing is extravagance and as long as the person is
moderate he will be at the safe side, this is what stated by the western
Even, the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, had given
us a remarkable rule in diet which explains Allah's saying (but waste not by
extravagance), he peace be upon him says: (the son of Adam had filled a bowl
not worse than a belly! Enough for the son of Adam are small mouthfuls to stand
him up, but if he was beaten by himself then a third for the food, a third for
drink and a third for breath) (the right sequence 2265). The prophet alienated
his companions from overeating and said (the son of Adam had not filled a bowl
worse than a belly) in order to have in front of their sight while eating that
this food might be harmful to them if they fill their bellies with it !
And this is a new scientific method to which the
psychiatrists gone today. As they alienated people from overeating and connect
this to the dangerous diseases like cancer and other diseases as what we have
seen in the previous studies. However, the noble prophet used this method of
teaching before the western scientists by long centuries, what does this
Also, the prophet peace be upon him, made the overeating
as the disbelievers' habits in order to get the people away from it. He, peace
be upon him, said: (the disbeliever eats in seven intestines and the believer
eats in one intestine) (Al Bukhari and Muslim). The prophet seemed to guide to
lower food intake as much as possible in a hidden way (1: 7 parts). And in deed
the avid person can eat food seven folds greater than what his body needs!
The second causative factor of obesity is emotional
stresses, this was not overlooked by the prophet of mercy, peace be upon him as
he said repeatedly to the Bedouin seeking for advice: "do not get angry ..
and repeated it many times" (Al Bukhari). Also the prophet considered the
good manner as the heaviest thing in the one's balance at the Day of Judgment,
he said: "there is nothing heavier in the balance than the good
manner" (narrated by Al Tarmithi).
But, what about the daily activity which the scientists
said that it a crucial factor in the treatment of obesity? The prophet, peace
be upon him was the most active, moving and worshipper to Allah among people.
The prophet had summarized this in one golden rule and said: "shall I
guide you to doings by which Allah erase sins and raise grades" they said
yes prophet of Allah, he said: "do ablution thoroughly on offenses, more
footsteps to masjids and waiting for prayer after prayer as that is ArRabat
"(narrated by Muslim).
Look with me at these daily practices that the believer
can not leave till he meet Allah, the Almighty, the ablution is activity and
cleanness, and the more footsteps to the masjid is the walking sport which the
scientists consider as one of the best sports, and the prayer beside being a
worship to Allah, it is a group of movements that is very beneficial to the
spinal cord, heart muscle, belly and back, therefore, the life of the believer
is full of activity and laziness never exits.
So, the prophet, peace be upon him, forbade overeating,
also forbade anger, hatred, negative thoughts and ordered activity, walking and
And do not forget, my beloved readers, that these
teachings were pointed to a group of people who were accustomed to fulfill
their bellies with food, moreover they were boasting in overeating as we knew
from the life of ignorance era before the prophet delegation. Those people were
also extremely angry and feverish for the most trivial reasons; a war that
extended for 40 years was because of a camel!! The question here is that if the
prophet wanted the power-as what the enemies of Islam claimed-why should he
order his people with new habits that they may not response to him!
And what would he gain from these teachings? And why
should he order them not to get angry and not to over eat ... this has no logic
explanation except to believe that the prophet did not give anything of his own
desire but it is a revelation from Allah, the apostle, as he is the mercy
bestowed upon us, and by Allah that if the Godless people knew the greatness of
this merciful prophet and the strength of the teachings he came by, and if they
were convinced with these teachings, the science would progress by hundreds
The scientists, as we see, watch nights, make experiments,
spend money while they are lost and have no base or structure or light to guide
them except what they see by their eyes and touch by their hands, and you find
them after hard studies which extends for long years reaching the same results
which the prophet of mercy had legislated! Isn't that sufficient evidence on
the truth of Islam message?