A seeker wrote, In regards to Eating. The chapter on eating less (in the book Tabligh e Deen of Imam Ghazali, Allah have mercy on him) did mention the benefits and harms clearly. But in terms of what to achieve I wish to ask some
questions.
When to eat:
The best is to remain hungry for atleast 3 days and eat on the 4th day. The lowest level is to eat once a day.
How much to eat:
I couldn’t relate to the amounts mentioned here. What I understood better over here is to eat only when really hungry and stop eating
before completely satisfied.
What to eat:
Couldn’t understand in terms of the contemporary Pakistani diet.
Ashrafiya replied,
Hakim al-Ummat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Allah have mercy on him) has mentioned that for us it is not recommended to restrict diet as it was done by sufiya previously. However, balance has to be maintained.The most important things in this regards are,
1. One’s mind is not occupied with thoughts and plans of eating specific items most of the time.
2. During each meal a moment comes when one hesitates to eat more or stop. At this moment one should stop eating.
3. Continue with your meals as usual. Do not make any drastic changes. However, be health conscious and eat whatever is good for you.
4. At dinner parties eat as usual. Making more shukr of Allah for all the bounties and variety of flavors, etc. However, stop as mentioned in #2.
Islahi emails:TA
Reviewed and approved by sanadi wa sanadi Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him)