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Bismillaah
This is hadeeth 47 mentioned in Ibn Rajab's Jamee al-Uloom wal Hikaam
(A collection of knowledge and wisdom)
Al-Miqdaad bin Ma'dy Karib narrated,
I heard the messenger of Allaah saying,
A son of Adaam has never filled a vessel more vicious than his stomach. It is sufficient for a son of Adaam to eat food enough to provide for his essential needs. If it is inevitable to eat more than that, he shall fill one third [of his stomach] with food, one third with drink, and leave one third [empty] for breathing [comfortably].
Recorded by at-Thirmidhi in Kitaab az-Zuhd (Book on Asceticism) no. 3380. He labeled it as hasan and saheeh (good and authenthic); it also recorded by ibn al-Mubaarak in Kitaab az-Zuhd no 603 and by al-Bayhaaqy in his Shu'ab al-eemaan, no. 5648, 5650 and by at-Tabaraan 20/274
Meaning of the hadeeth:
This hadeeth is a basis for the principles of medicine. It is narrated that when the physician Ibn Masawayh read this hadeeth in the Book on Aboo Khuthaimah he said,
If people make use of such words, they will be protected from diseases and maladies; hospitals and pharmacies will have no patients. He said this because overeating is the reason for all diseases.
Al-Haarith bin Kildah said,
Diet is the mother of medicine and overeating is the mother of illness.
Al-Haarith also said,
That which kills human beings and annihilates animals in the wilderness is eating food while the stomach is still full of undigested food.
It was also quoted,
If the dead were asked what the reason was for their death; they would have answered, "Overeating
There are but some of the benefits of diet for having sound health. As for the heart, little food brings about tender hearts and sound understanding, and humility. A small amount of food also decreases boodily desires and anger. Too much food results in just the opposite effect.
Ibn 'Umar said,
I have not been completely satiated for the last four months
'Amr bin Qays said,
Beware of overeating; it hardens the hearts.
Salamah bin Sa'eed said,
Men used to be criticized for overeating as they were criticized for committing sins.
Muhammad bin An-Nadr al-Haarith said,
Hunger leads to piety as fullness leads to arrogance.
Ash-Shaafi'ee said,
I have not been full for 16 years because fullness results in laziness, witlessness, and sleepiness. In addition, it weakens one's ability to worship.
The Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) recommended taking only a little amount of food and said,
It is sufficient for a son of Adaam to eat food enough to provide for his essential needs." In the two saheeh volumes, it is recorded that the Prophet said, "A believer eats in one intestine (is satisfied with little food) whereas a disbeliever eats in seven intestines (eat too much food).
(Agreed upon)
This means that a believer eats according to the etiquettes of Islaamic legislation and eats in one intestine, whereas a disbeliever gluttonously eats in seven intestines. The Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) also recommended giving some of one's own food to others in addition to eating a small amount of food.
The Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said,
The food one person is sufficient for two people, and the food of two people is sufficient for three people, and the food of three people is sufficient for four people. (Agreed upon)
The best diet is to fill one third of the stomach with food, one third with drinks and leave one third empty for breathing comfortably as was mentioned in the hadeeth narrated by Al-Miqdaad. Drinking too much brings about sleep and spoils food. Sufyaan said,
Eat whatever you like, but do not drink as not to feel drowsy.
The Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his Companions used to feel hungry and have little food. However, even if this was because they didnt have food, it is to be known that Allaah prescribed what was best for His Messenger. Therefore, ibn 'Umar used to imitate the Prophet though he had the ability to eat much food. His father, 'Umar, used to do the same before him. In the two saheeh volumes, it is recorded that 'Aaishah narrated,
The family of Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) had not eaten bread for their statisfaction for three consecutive days since his arrival at Al-Madeenah until he died.
It is recorded in Muslim that 'Aaishah narrated that,
The messenger of Allaah (Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) had not eaten barely bread to his statisfaction for two consecutive days until he died.
Al-Bukharee recorded that Aboo Hurayrah narrated,
The Messenger of Allaah (Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not eat his fill for three successive days till he died.
Aboo Hurayrah also narrated that
Allaah's Messenger (Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) left this world without satisfying his hunger, even with barley.
It is recorded in Saheeh Muslim that 'Umar delivered a sermon in which mentioned the afflications of people and said,
I have seen the Messenger of Allaah suffering all day from hunger not having even poor dates.
In Manaaqib of al-Imaam Ahmad, Yahya bin Mandah narrated that Imaam Ahmad was asked about the Prophet's saying,
one-third for food, one third for drinking, and one-third for breathing.
He answered,
One third for food is the nourishment, one third for drinks, is the strength, and one third for breathing is the breath of life, and Allaah knows best.