Eating: Difference between Believer and Disbelievers

Prophet SAWS: “The believer eats in one stomach, and the disbeliever and the hypocrite eat in seven.” (Bukhaari and Muslim).

In another narration of this Hadeeth, it is mentioned:

“A man by the name of Abu Ghazwaan came to visit the Prophet SAWS. (This was before Abu Ghazwaan had become Muslim.) The Prophet SAWS was the most generous of all people and he milked seven sheep for him. So the man drank all of the milk. Then the Prophet SAWS said to him: “Isn’t it time you became a Muslim?” He replied: ‘Yes’ and became Muslim. The Prophet SAWS then stroked his chest (while supplicating for him).
The next day, the Prophet SAWS milked only one sheep for him, but Abu Ghazwaan, may Allaah be pleased with him, was not able to drink all of the milk. So, the Prophet SAWS asked: “What is the matter Abu Ghazwaan?” He, may Allaah be pleased with him, responded: ‘I swear by the One Who sent you as a Prophet, I have had enough.’
So the Prophet SAWS said: “Last night you had seven stomachs while you were a disbeliever and today you only have one stomach.” (At-Tabaraani).

This saying of the Prophet SAWS means that a believer can eat less and control his desires more, since he does not eat to enjoy nor to fulfil a desire, but rather to stop hunger and become stronger so that he can worship Allah. The disbeliever, however, who does not believe in the Day to come, eats with a strong desire and the lust of animals, as Allah describes him in the Qur’aan saying: “…But those who disbelieve enjoy themselves and eat as grazing livestock eat, and the Fire will be a residence for them.” (Muhammad: 12).

~ by Hammad on October 3, 2009.