Combating Food Obsession

 

I have battled with weight all my cognizant life. It is by all accounts the least demanding thing to heap on and the most troublesome thing to shed… and obviously, to keep off. 

Indeed, I love to eat. Indeed, I am fixated on food. I'm continually considering what I will eat straightaway and thinking about food carries a light to my eyes, the way nothing else does. It's my dearest companion, continually welcoming me to visit. It's my mind-set enhancer when I am cheerful, my award when I prevail at something, my encouragement when I am dismal, my solace when I am discouraged and when I am restless, it quiets me down. It stays with me when I am separated from everyone else, it's my diversion when I am exhausted and anticipating it keeps me going when I am among unstimulating individuals. What's more, I can never get enough of it! I eat frequently, lean toward my own organization when eating and once I begin eating I simply continue going and don't have a clue when to stop. 

The bottom line is: food gives me indefinable delight in a way nothing else does. Furthermore, its most amazing aspect is that it doesn't disrespect me! 

Till obviously, I get on the gauging scale. Then, at that point it turns into the foe that enrages me no closure! 

Makes you need to propose that I have a place in a specialist's office or on the therapist's love seat, correct? Indeed, you're off-base! After many, many, a long time I at last sorted out what the issue is. No, it's anything but a deformity in my nerve center which controls my craving or the breakdown of the inside correspondence framework between my stomach and my cerebrum that communicates the message that "I've had enough." It's a lot easier than that, a whole lot less complex. 

As a youngster, I was never prepared to say Bismillah or request barakah prior to eating. I was not reminded to plunk down and eat or drink or besides, eat just with the right hand. Furthermore, the outcome? No satiation! Indeed, even since I have gotten aware of the need to begin everything for the sake of Allah, by one way or another old propensities stalwart, and more often than not I neglect, particularly prior to eating or drinking, or just make sure to do as such after I've had my fill. 

So this is a suggestion to me and that load of Muslims out there who are battling with similar issues and for whom noticing the Islamic behaviors of eating and drinking could give an answer for their over the top dietary patterns. So here goes.. 

Figure out how to remind yourself to say "Bismillah" prior to eating or drinking: 

(Set up stickers in your feasting region, a tent card on your eating table or advise relatives to remind one another, yet discover a way!) This is the main beginning stage. Recall that Satan partakes in the food and drink we devour before which we don't articulate Allah's name. It likewise denies it of barakah for example gifts and wealth. (No big surprise I am rarely satisfied!) 

Our Prophet (ﷺ) said: 

"In the event that an individual notices the Name of Allah after going into his home or eating, Satan says, tending to his adherents: 'You will discover no place to go through the evening and no supper.' But on the off chance that he enters without referencing the Name of Allah, Satan says (to his supporters); 'You have discovered (a spot) to go through the night in,' and in the event that he doesn't specify the Name of Allah at the hour of eating, Satan says: 'You have discovered (a spot) to go through the night in just as food." 

[Muslim hadith]. 

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was eating with his six Companions when a desert Arab came and gobbled up the food in two pieces. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, 

"Had he referenced the Name of Allah, it would have done the trick for every one of you." 

[At-Tirmidhi hadith] 

In the event that you neglect to do it before you start, say it when you recall 

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was sitting while a man was eating food. That man didn't specify the name of Allah (prior to starting to eat) till just a piece of food was left. At the point when he raised it to his mouth, he said: "Bismillah awwalahu wa akhirahu" (With the Name of Allah, first and foremost and eventually)." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) grinned at this and said, 

"Satan had been eating with him however when he referenced the Name of Allah, Satan retched all that was in his stomach." 

[Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i hadith]. 

Eat and drink with your right hand 

The Prophet (ﷺ), said 

"Notice Allah's Name (i.e., say Bismillah prior to beginning eating), eat with your right hand, and eat based on what is close to you." 

[Bukhari and Muslim hadith] 

Ibn 'Umar (r.a) detailed Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: 

At the point when any of you plans to eat (feast), he ought to eat with his right hand. also, when he (means) to drink he should drink with his right hand, for the Satan eats with his left hand and beverages with his left hand." 

[Muslim hadith] 

Eat or drink plunking down 

"Yet, the individuals who distrust, have a ball and eat as touching domesticated animals eat, and the Fire will be a home for them." 

[Quran - 47:12] 

Anas (ra) detailed that Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) disallowed that an individual should drink while standing. Qatada announced: "We said to him: What about eating?" Thereupon he (Anas) said: "That is far more atrocious and more vile (evil)." [Muslim hadith] 

Eat gradually 

Eating gradually is suggested for acceptable wellbeing as it guarantees that the food is altogether bitten and subsequently simpler to process. It likewise gives more prominent satiation. 

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, 

"Tranquility and patient consideration is from Allah and scramble is from Satan." 

[Tirmidhī hadith] 

Eat together 

This will assist with killing your "storage room" dietary patterns and the advantages of partaking in dinners together will apply. 

The Prophet (ﷺ) stressed the significance of this when he said, 

"Eat together and not independently, for the gift is related with the organization." 

[Ibn Majah hadith] 

The Companions of the Messenger (r.a) griped: 'O Messenger of Allah, we eat however are not satisfied.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 

'Maybe you eat independently?' They answered that they did. He(ﷺ) said: "Eat your food together and say Bismillah before you start. That will bring favors into your food." 

[Abu Dawud hadith] 

Take little parts 

You can generally take more food on the off chance that you believe you are as yet eager. In the event that you take a huge segment however are satisfied part of the way through, not having any desire to squander it might cause you to eat everything. 

Finish (clean) the plate without extras 

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) directed the licking of fingers and the gathering of the dish, saying, "You don't know in what parcel the gift lies." [Muslim hadith]. 

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, 

"Satan shows up at everything done by you; he shows up even at one's supper. At the point when a piece of any of you falls, he should get it and eliminate any soil on it, and afterward eat it. He ought not leave it for Satan, nor should he wipe his hand with the towel until he has licked his fingers, for he doesn't know in which part of the food the gift lies." 

[Muslim Hadith] 

Be thankful to Allah during and after food or drink 

"O you who accept! Eat of the beneficial things that We have accommodated you and be appreciative to Allah, on the off chance that it is Him that you love." [Quran-2:172] 

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 

"Verily, Allah is satisfied with His worker when he eats a piece and adulates Him, and when he takes a beverage and afterward applauds him (Al-Hamdulillah)." 

[Abu Dawud hadith] 

Eat just what is admissible 

Individuals whose shortcoming is food might be enticed to choose not to see in issue, for example, the wellspring of the food they are eating, what is in it or if the meat is even zabiha, though Allah advises us in the Quran: 

"O you People! Eat of what is on earth, Halal and unadulterated, and don't follow the strides of the Satan; Indeed for he is to you an open foe." 

[Quran-2:168] 

"Eat not (O devotees) of that meat on which Allah's Name has not been articulated (at the hour of butchering) without a doubt it is rebellion of Allah (an evil lead)." 

[Quran-6:121] 

Quick consistently 

This is the most troublesome thing for individuals who are fixated on food or who love to eat, yet it is simply the best preparing discipline. 

Lastly… 

We need to continue reminding ourselves continually that eating and drinking isn't the sole reason for a Muslim's life. Indeed, it's anything but a type of love whenever done in the correct way and fully intent on keeping a solid body to revere Allah appropriately, however on the off chance that inordinate utilization brings about awful wellbeing, we need to regard Allah's alerts in the Quran: 

"Try not to cause your own annihilation" 

[2:195] 

"Try not to off yourself, for verily God is ever Merciful towards you" 

[4: 29] 

"Also, eat and drink, however be not inordinate. Undoubtedly, He loves not the individuals who submit overabundance." 

(7:31) 

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said 

"Nothing is more regrettable than an individual who fills his stomach. It ought to be sufficient for the child of Adam to have a couple of chomps to fulfill his yearning. In the event that he wishes more, it ought to be: 33% for his food, 33% for his fluids, and 33% for his breath." 

[Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Hakim hadith] 

DUA: 

Allaahumma laa sahlan illaa mama ja'altahu sahlan wa anta taj'alal hazna idha shi'ta sahla 

Gracious Allah! Nothing is simple aside from what You have made simple. On the off chance that You wish, You can make the troublesome simple.