The Prophet and Food

JAMAAL DIWAN | JUNE 17, 2011 5:00 AM

One of the sunnahs (traditions and practices) of the Prophet ( May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that we often overlook is his guidance and example in regards to food. It is important for us to look again at the Prophetic example, especially in a time when many Americans and other people of opportunity throughout the world are dying from diet-related diseases. All of the following hadiths (sayings of the Prophet )are taken from a summary of al-Shamil al-Muammadiyya by Imam al-Tirmidhi and none of them are weak according to al-Albani.
1

Mlik ibn Dinr radi Allahu anhu (may Allah bless Him) said: The Prophet never got full from bread or meat unless he was eating with people.
2

Al-Numn ibn Bashr (ra) said: Do you not have all the food and drink that you want? Verily I saw your prophet and he could not even find enough low-quality dates to fill his stomach. isha (ra) said: Verily, we, the family of Muammad ,would go an entire month without lighting a fire. It was only dates and water. Anas (ra) said: The Prophet never had bread and meat together for lunch and dinner, unless he was eating with people. Anas (ra) said: One time the Prophet was brought dates and I saw him eating them while leaning on something because of the severity of his hunger.
3

isha (ra) said: The family of Muammad was never full off of bread made from barley for two consecutive days until he passed. Ibn Abbs (ra) said: The Prophet and his family would go to sleep while hungry for several nights because they could not find anything to eat for dinner. And most of their bread was from barley. Sahl ibn Sad (ra) was asked: Did the Prophet eat white flour? Sahl said, The Prophet did not see white
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flour until he met God.

Masrq (ra) said: I visited isha and she requested some food for me. Then she said, I do not get full from food except that I want to cry and then I cry. I said, Why? She said, I remember how the Prophet was when he left this life. I swear by God that he never had his fill of bread and meat together twice in one day. O Allah! Send your peace and blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad .