Various Hadith about hunger

The method to make good deeds easy is to keep the stomach empty.  This is because the stomach is like the reservoir of the body and the blood vessels that come from it are its tributaries.  Listen friends!  The body is overwhelmed by passion and it is because of this passion that Hadhrat Adam (May peace be upon him) was removed from Jannah.  The seat of passion is the stomach, which is joined by different desires.  That is why when the stomach is filled, the desire for marriage starts stirring and these desires cannot be fulfilled without money.  This creates the desire for wealth and wealth is not gained without fame and reputation and these cannot be gotten without enmity of the populace and with enmity of the people, a lot of other blameworthy traits like jealousy, pride, etc. are born and with this the whole machinery for destruction of religion is gathered.  Thus filling the stomach is the root of all sins and transgressions.  Thus, the root of all virtues is to keep the stomach empty.  Thus, the Hadith, which have been mentioned in this regard are being recorded here.   Perform Jihad with hunger and thirst (i.e. remain hungry and thirsty) as performing Jihad with one’s Nafs (self) with hunger and thirst is rewarded like Jihad with unbelievers (those who disturb peace).   No act is more loved by Allah Ta’ala than remaining hungry and thirsty.   The angels don’t part for the person who fills his (or her) stomach.   When asked who is superior among the worshippers with respect to their good deeds, then the answer was the person who eats less and laughs less.   Allah Ta’ala tells the angels about those who eat less:  O angels!  I have given him (or her) the desire to eat (in human nature), but he (or she) is stopping himself from eating only for My sake.  O angels!  You be witness, I will give him (or her) one gradation of Jannah for each morsel of food that he has left for my sake.   Don’t let your heart die by eating and drinking excessively, because when water is drunk excessively, then the heart becomes weak and dies due to it.   The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said once that the doors of Jannah always remain closed.  The Companions (Sahabah) asked Him about the deed which opens the door of Jannah.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Yes!  The door of Jannah are opened by remaining hungry and remaining thirsty.   Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqua (May Allah be well pleased with her) says that that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would never eat to a full stomach, because of which His blessed stomach had sunk to the inside.  I said:  O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  I would sacrifice myself for you!  What harm is in taking so much from this world that hunger is satiated?   The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  O Aisha!  My brothers (i.e. other great Prophets) who have gone before me (because of bearing difficulties and hunger in this world) are in the benevolence and favors of Allah Ta’ala and I fear that by remaining in the bounties of Allah Ta’ala my status will become less than the great Prophets.  That’s why I am patient in the few days of life of this world and stop myself from the bounties of this world so that there is no reduction in the pleasure of Aakhirah and this is what I like.  I don’t like anything more than meeting the great Prophets.  Hadhrat Aisha (May Allah be well pleased with her) says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) did not live for more than a week after this.   [Excerpted from Fadhaail-e-Ramadhan, 2008 edition, Pg. No. 40-42]

Dr. Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Qadri

Shaykh Ul Fiqh, Jamia Nizamia; Founder - Director

Mufti Maulana Syed Zia Uddin Naqshbandi Quadri

Shaik-ul-Fiqh - Jamia Nizamia

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Various Hadith about hunger