THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EATING LITTLE AND MODERATE HUNGER

The great friend of Allah Mahmud Sami Ramazanoghlu emphasizes the significance of eating and drinking little in his book Mukerrem Insan (The Perfect Man) and says:

“They asked the doctors: What is the best cure, they answered: Eating little. The people of wisdom are asked how they found so much power and courage for worshipping Allah. They answered: Eating little. The ascetics are asked: What makes the tie between man and Allah stronger: They answered: Eating little. The scholars are asked: What is the best state for learning. They answered: being in a state of hunger (rather than satiety) and eating little.“

There are so many benefits in eating little (never eating until the stomach is filled):

 1. In moderate hunger there is clearness of mind and heart; the memory is stronger. In the state of being overly full, there is forgetfulness and foolishness.

2. In moderate hunger there is gentleness of the heart. The heart benefits and takes pleasure from worship and supplication. With a full stomach the heart is insensitive and takes no pleasure in worship.

3. In moderate hunger there is softness of heart and humility. Satiety produces insolence, conceit, pride and bragging.

4. In moderate hunger one thinks of the poor and hungry, whereas a man with a full stomach never remembers the poor and the needy.

5. In moderate hunger the appetite, needs and wishes of the animal soul are broken. When full the animal soul is strong and the desires find strength.

6. In moderate hunger the body is in an agile and aware condition. When full it feels sleepy and careless.

7. In moderate hunger one feels ready to worship and give service to Allah. When the stomach is full one feels lazy and lax.

8. In moderate hunger, the body is healthier. Sickness disappears. Overeating makes the body feel worn out and sick.

9. In moderate hunger the body feels light and spacious making, one cheerful.

10. In moderate hunger one feels more generous and ready to provide support for the poor with charity.  On the other hand those who do not experience hunger at all, do not understand the sufferings of the poor.

Also, for this, in the heat on the fearful Day of Judgment, the servant will come into a state of coolness and shade. Fullness produces a state that goes from stinginess to wasteful spending which leads to the destruction of the servant. In other words, a full stomach urges the animal soul and ego to be active in order to satisfy its base desires.

 NB: Culled from the book “Islam: Spirit and Form” by Osman Nuri Topbas.

TAQWA (PIETY), A POEM.

Left ajar, it gets rusted

Kept high, it becomes glinted.

Deep in the very cistern of the heart

Manifested by acts of the body, clear-cut

I longto have it running in my lungs.

Sparkling, dazzling, candling like brine.

Refinery for the soul, distillery for the faith and sublime

Uplifts a wretched soul to a level so benign

Not obtained by race, color, creed nor tribe

Rather bestowed unto a nafs by Al-Rahman the most high

He who has it is the greatest amongst you

As the Quran said “Inna Akramakum inda llaahi atkaaakum”

At-taqwa, the prophet said “fee suduurikum”

Further hinted by a hadith that is pabulum

That inna llaaha laaa yanzuru ilaa ajsaamikum

Neither suwarikum rather deep down the kullubikum

(Allah looks at the intent and not the form)

Without Taqwa, our Islam will fall and scatter

For the lack of it, Iman will sink into Nima gutter

Without Taqwa evil will enslave man

In its absence, our soul will be wan like grains of sand

Without Taqwa, the might of our deen will be undone

For its beauty Rabbi Zidnii

I crave for more laa tanqusnii

TAQWA, we need for Janna

For that is the absolute Ni’ma

Polished with Allah’s Rahma

Wa man yaqul inniswagiiru asbiruu

Hattaa akhaafu llaaha heena akbaruu

Fa inna zaaka garrahu ibleesu

Faqalbuhu muugaffalun matmuusii

(He who says let me grow before I gain Taqwa,

has his soul taken by Shaitaan, the accursed animal)

Wa tub ilaa mawlaaka yaa insaanu

Min qabli an yafuutaka zamaan.

(Repent unto your lord O’ slave before you are lowered into your grave

And have no one to blame on the blameless day)