Eating Habits in Islam – Diet – Forbidden Food

Most of obedient muslim consider that Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is the main role model of them, which all of his attitude as well his everyday habit will be implemented to Muslim’s daily life, whether it is obligatory or recommended. For the example is eating habit and food diet in Islam that the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) implemented in his daily life.

There are eating habits in Islam which is The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) implement in his daily life, which is apply to most of the Moslems all over the world.

1. Recite the Dua (supplication) before meal

Since eating is a matter of worship, it begins with the name of Allah. The Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) said: “The devil considers food lawful for him when Allah’s name is not mentioned over it.” (Muslim) Muslims are to start their eating by making the following du’a (supplication): “O Allah! Bless the food You have bestowed upon us and protect us from the torment of hell. In the name of Allah we start.” (An-Nasa’i) When a Muslim forgets to say this du’a before starting to eat, and remembers it after a while, he should say:  “In the name of Allah before and after.” (Tirmidhi & Abu Dawud)

2.  Recite the Dua after Meal

After completing the meal, Muslims praise and thank Allah for the blessings that He bestowed upon them. After finishing their meal, Muslims say the following du’a: “Praise be to Allah the One Who gave us the food and the drink. Praise be to Him Who made us Muslims.” (Tirmidhi & Abu Dawud)

3. Never critizise the Food

Food should not be criticized for any reason, even if a person dislikes it. The Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) never criticized any food that was offered to him (PBUH). “The Prophet (PBUH) never criticized any food (he was invited to), but he used to eat it if he liked the food, and leave it if he disliked it.” (Sahih Bukhari)

4. Eating Less

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Nothing is worse than a person who fills his stomach. It should be enough for the son of Adam to have a few bites to satisfy his hunger. If he wishes more, it should be: One third for his food, one third for his liquids, and one third for his breath.” (Tirmidhi & Ibn Majah). Other hadith sai’d that “Eat less, you will be healthier”

Besides, overeating and wasting food is condemn according to Qur’an 7:31 (Al A’raf) ” O Children of Adam! Put on your adornment (decent proper dress) when you attend your Masjid at the time of every prayer. Eat and drink, but do not be extravagant; surely He does not love the extravagant.”

5. Eat with the Right Hand

Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) commanded people to eat with the right hand as well he also use his only three finger to take the food. It is saying that “None of you should eat with his left hand and drink with that (left hand) for the Satan (devil) eats with his left hand and drinks with that hand.” (Muslim, 5010). It is said that doing the left hand is imitating the Satan. . It was also reported in an authentic hadeeth that he told a man who was eating with his left hand in his presence, “Eat with your right hand!” The man said, “I cannot.” He said, “May you never be able to,” and the man never lifted his right hand to his mouth after that (Muslim, 2021).

It is also said that the Prophet use his three fingers to take food and will clean the fingers by licking them after meal.

[AdSense-B]

6. Enjoying Meal Together

Have a meal with others brings about harmony and togetherness among people we acquintance better such as Family member, best friend, colleague, business clients, etc. The family members having daily meals at the same time and at the same table show a happy family and strengthens the family relationship more.

People are usually relaxed when eating their meal in a group. Their minds are less absorbed in their daily activities and are free of worries. Thus, people are better able to communicate with one another. Even business deals are agreed upon more successfully during dinners or luncheons than in offices. Often, doubts and suspicions are removed when people dine together, even if they do not clear such doubts by openly seeking explanations.

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) brought the attention of Muslims to the importance of eating together. He (PBUH) said: “Eat together and not separately, for the blessing is associated with the company”. (Ibn Majah)

Food Diet in Islam: Forbidden and Recommended Food

In islam also recommend how to do a good diet by choosing the right foods between edible and not edible foods, according to Qur’an. As follows:

1. Forbidden food in Islam

There are some foods that all of Moslems must not have to consume and what’s the recommended food you should take. The Prophet Mohammed, that implemented eating habit and food diet in Islam, said according to the Quran, that the only foods explicitly forbidden are meat from animals that die of themselves, blood, the meat of swine (porcine animals, pigs), and animals dedicated to other than God (either undedicated or dedicated to idols). All vegetarian cuisine are halal and allowed for Muslims. According to Qur’an (2: 173):

“He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah . But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful”

[AdSense-A] It is also quoted in the Holy Qur’an Al Maidah (5:5):

“Prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah, and [those animals] killed by strangling or by a violent blow or by a head-long fall or by the goring of horns, and those from which a wild animal has eaten, except what you [are able to] slaughter [before its death], and those which are sacrificed on stone altars, and [prohibited is] that you seek decision through divining arrows. That is grave disobedience. This day those who disbelieve have despaired of [defeating] your religion; so fear them not, but fear Me. This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion. But whoever is forced by severe hunger with no inclination to sin – then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful”

What food prohibited in Islam (haram) are:

• Swine animal produce (pork, ham, bacon, smoke pork, pork sausage).
• Slaughtered animal not in the name of “Allah”, that dedicated to other that Allah, or and sacrifice for anything / any but God.
• Carrion (Decaying dead of animal not killed by a man).
• An animal that has been strangled, beaten (to death), killed by a fall, gored (to death), or savaged by a beast of prey (unless finished off by a human.
• Blood.
• Alcoholic or intoxicant beverage.

2. Food Recommended by Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)

There are any foods that Prophet Mohammed recommended, and it could be Prophet favorite food and mostly they are good for our health:

1. Dates, contains very low fat, free of cholesterol but rich in vitamins and mineral.
2. Meat, the prophet recommended lamb meat / mutton as it is rich in protein, iron, zinc, selenium, it is as well healthier compared to beef.
3. Figs, they are low in calories and good for bones. They are also known as one of the fruits of paradise (Jannah) and offer various health benefits, nutrients and anti-oxidants.
4. Grapes, which useful for purifying the blood, offered vigour and health, give a strength to the healthy kidneys and clean the bowels due to their high fiber content.
5. Milk, it makes the back become strengthen, give your vision more clear, and improves memory skill, gives calcium for teeth and bones.
6. Honey, the mother of foods, the father of drinks and the guard of drugs. Most used for gaining appetite, make stomach stronger, eliminating phlegm; as a meat preservative, hair conditioner, eye soother and mouthwash.
7. Olive (fruit and oil), Good for skin and hair, covered old age, and treats inflammation of the stomach, not to mention its low calorie as cooking benefits. The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Eat the olive oil and apply it (locally), since there is cure for seventy diseases in it, one of them is Leprosy”.
8. Melon, it also have very high water content and are great for hot summers.
9. Pumpkin, useful for the Lungs and prevent birth defects. Useful for cure asthma, colon cancer, pain, blood pressure and heart disease to name a few.
10. Vinegar, the best curry recommended by Prophet Muhammad. As a matter of fact, non alcoholic vinegar also helps fatigued muscles recover after strenuous physical activity.
11. Barley, it is useful for curing fever and should served as a soup for the best results.
12. Black Carraway, which according to the prophet (pbuh), is a cure for all diseases except death. Black Caraway includes natural antibiotics along with essential nutrients and vitamins likes Vitamin A, phosphates and iron apart from other compounds.

Finally, those are how to do eating in Islam with a good way. Maybe the information can help you understanding how moeslem people eat in their daily life.