Maintenance of Health (3/4)

9. Observe the rules of simplicity and moderation in all your activities. In physical labour, mental exertion, marital relations, eating, drinking, sleep and rest, anxiety, merriment, recreation, worship, walking and conversation — in short, in all your activities always follow a middle course, and regard it as the mam source of virtue and well-being.

The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has said:

"How wonderful it is to be moderate in the midst of plenty! And what a fine thing it is to follow a middle course in deprivation, and what a better course it is to be moderate in offering prayers". [Reported by Musnad Bazaz/Kanz amal]

10. Eat at the proper time. Abstain from over-eating. Don't munch all the time. Take food only when you feel the appetite and stop eating before your stomach is filled, so that you should still feel slightly hungry when the meal is over. You must never indulge in over-eating.

The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed:

"The believer fills only one intestine while the non-believer eats to fill seven intestines". (Reported by Tirmidhi)

Good health depends on proper functioning of the stomach. Over-eating makes the stomach sick. The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) bas explained this point in an allegory as follows:

 “The stomach serves as a cistern. The veins receive their life-blood from this reservoir. Hence if the stomach is healthy, the veins will be irrigated with the juices of health and in case the stomach is ill the veins will only suck the juice of sickness". (Reported by Baihaqi)

Persuading the people to be abstemious in taking food the Prophet of God (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed:

"One man's dinner is sufficient for two".

11. Always eat simple fare, Eat whole wheat bread. Do not eat while the food is piping hot. Avoid spiced and pungent foods and have no unnecessary craving for tasty delicacies.

Make it a point to eat simple, easily digestible, ' nourishing and healthful diet, Do not crave for delicious foods or foods that leave a pungent taste on the tongue.

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) preferred whole-wheat bread. He did not like bread made of soft flour or thin Joaves. He never ate while the food was piping hot, but waited till it cooled. Referring to the eating of food while it is piping hot, the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sometimes observed:

 “God has not ordained us to eat fire”;

And some other time he would say:

"There is no virtue in eating piping hot food”.

Meat (especially joints of leg, pieces of neck and flesh of the backside) was the Prophet's (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) favourite food. In point of fact, meat is an important and essential food for the nourishment of body and for forging a bold attitude of mind; and the believers should always be bold of heart and sturdy in passion.

The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has affirmed: 

"The person who died without fighting in the cause of Allah and had no desire for such fight has in a way died in the state of hypocrisy". (Reported by Muslim)

12. Eat in perfect peace of mind and in a relaxed mood and chew the food well. Avoid eating in a mood of sorrow, anger, anxiety or perplexity. The food that is eaten in a cheerful and peaceful state of mind nourishes the body, whereas food that is gulped down in a state of anxiety or grief has an adverse effect on the stomach and affords no strength to the body. Don’t be silent, sad or woe-begone while taking meals nor show undue mirth by raising loud guffaws. Laughter during meals proves fatal sometimes.

Talk and laugh with moderation while taking meals. Eat in a pleasant and cheerful mood and offer thanks to the Almighty for His Blessed Provisions; and when ill, take every precaution with regard to your meals.

Umme Mundhir (may God be pleased with her) relates;

"The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) once visited me. Bunches of date-fruit were hanging in the home. The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) plucked the fruit and started eating it.  ‘Ali (God be pleased with him) did the same. The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), however, forbade 'Ali (God be pleased with him) and said: "You have just recovered from illness; you should not eat this fruit”. So ‘AIi (God be pleased with him) stopped. Meanwhile, the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) continued to eat the fruit. Umm Mundhir (God be pleased with her) further relates:

"Later, I cooked some barley and beet-root. The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to ‘Ali (God be pleased with him): "‘Ali, take this. This food will do you good”. [Shama’il Tirmidhi)

When he (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had a guest at meals, he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to prompt the guest repeatedly to eat more and until he had eaten to his fill and insisted on taking no more, the Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) then stopped to prompt him.

During meals, the Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to be engaged in amiable talk and maintained an atmosphere of joy and cordiality.

13. Take a nap after the mid-day meal and go for a stroll after dinner, Avoid strenuous physical and mental exertion immediately after the meals. There is a well-known maxim in Arabic which runs thus:

" تغدّى تمدّى ... تعشّى تمشّى "

“Taghadda Tamadda, Ta'ashsha Tamashsha "

"Stretch out after the midday meal and take a stroll after taking dinner".

14. Take good care of your eyes. Don't expose your eyes to glaring light. Don’t set your gaze upon the sun. Don't read in either faint or intense light. Always study under a clear and soothing light. Avoid keeping yourself awake for too long. Protect your eyes from filth and dirt. Apply collyrium to your eyes and always try to keep your eyes clean. Go for a walk in the fields, gardens and green pastures and amuse yourself. The sight of greenery has a pleasant effect on eyes. Guard against casting evil glances, for this practice will dim the sparkle of your eyes and your general health will decline. The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has said:

"Your eyes have a right on you.”

It is, therefore, incumbent upon a believer to value this Divine blessing. He should use this blessing according to the will of the Almighty. He should be particular about the protection of his eyes and keeping them clean. He should use all means which may be of benefit to his/her eyes and avoid everything that may cause injury to them.

Similarly, the true believer should take care to preserve the strength of other limbs and organs of his/her body. The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed:

"O people! You should apply collyrium to your eyes. It clears away all wax from your eyes and helps in the growth of hair ". [Reported by Tirmidhi]