Enmity in my tea

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

ENMITY IN MY TEA

Ever thought the food that you take in can turn your own body against you? Here, take a look:

.الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): بَطنُ المَرءِ عَدوُّه

“Man’s stomach is his enemy.”

Imam Ali (a)

(Ghurar Al-Hikam)

Meanings of the Arabic words:

• بطن: (noun) stomach
• المرء: (noun) man, person
• عدو: (noun) enemy
• ه : (noun) his/her

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If we take a look at this hadith from a literal point of view, it is mainly discussing how much negatively can excessive eating impact us. Giving our body required nutrients is our body’s right on our neck, but if we keep on feeding ourselves, even when not required, we shall have to face the consequences…

Often, the craving is for foods high in sugar and fats, which can make maintaining a healthy diet difficult. Food cravings are caused by the regions of the brain that are responsible for memory, pleasure, and reward. An imbalance of hormones, such as leptin and serotonin, can also cause food cravings. In some cases, there also could be an underlying psychological or emotional issue that provokes one to eat for comfort. In both the scenarios, eating more than required is an indication for another problem we’re facing which needs to be dealt with.

The Prophet (s) said: 

“Whoever adheres to hygienic principles regarding eating, and chews his food well, stops eating while he is still not full and does not put off going to the toilet when needed, will not suffer from any illnesses until death.” [Makarim al-Akhlaq, p.146.]

He (s) also said:

“Eating beyond satiation will cause leprosy.” [Fehrist-i-Ghurar al-Hikam, p.25; Makarim al-Akhlaq, p.147.]

And:

“The stomach is the home (source) of all illness, and abstinence from gluttony is the best drug.” [Peak Of Rhetoric (Nahjul Fasaha)]

                        

Scientists agree that food has both good and bad physical and psychological effects on us. Research laboratories are well-equipped to measure the chemical composition of foodstuff and how they affect our bodies. 

Imam Sadiq (a) said:

“The Almighty God only allowed some things for us to eat and drink due to their benefit and good effects on us, and only forbade us some things due to their harmfulness and ill effects.” [Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, v.3, p.71.]

On a deeper level, hunger brings up our animalistic nature and stimulates our desire for survival. Hunger is even stronger than fear, a vital emotion that helps protect prey animals from being killed. Given a choice between a dangerous location containing food -- a vulnerable, open area or a room that smells like foxes -- and staying in a safe zone, hungry mice would spend more time in the scary place. This kind of response helps us to get through fight or flight situations. But if it becomes our second nature, one can turn into a fierce beast. Extreme desire for food, power, and life gives rise to greed, selfishness, and other inhuman behaviors.

The Prophet (saww) said: 

“Do not cause your hearts to die by overeating or over-drinking. Hearts die just as crops do when they are overwatered.” [Makarim al-Akhlaq, p.150.]

A simple evaluation: If your center of attention is organs that are above your navel, you’re living a human life. On the contrary, if your focus is below your navel, your life is driven by animalistic instincts.

Imam Zain Al-Abideen (a) has precisely explained this in his masterpiece, Risalatul Huquq; A divine perspective on rights. 

Right n. 8: The Right of the Stomach:

“And the right of your stomach is that you make it not into a container for a little of that which is unlawful to you or a lot of it. You should be determined to eat what is lawful and not exceed the bounds of strengthening to the extent of belittling your stomach to the point that you lose your human nature. And you should restrain it whenever you are extremely hungry or thirsty, since getting really full will cause indigestion, sluggishness, indolence, and it will hinder you from nobility and any good deeds. And drinking too much will make you feel drunk, light-headed, ignorant, and take away your human nature.”

Therefore, if we don’t look after our bodies and follow the principle of being moderate, our own temple, our stomach can turn against us and become our biggest enemy. 

Date: 17/4/2020 

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