Is there a saying of Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah (radiyallahu ‘anha) which is as follows:
‘The first bid’ah of this ummah is to eat a full (stomach)’
What is the authenticity, reference and commentary for this Hadith?
Answer
Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah (radiyallahu’anha) is reported to have said:
‘The first calamity to have crept in the ummah after Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) is to eat full stomach. For when people eat till their fill, their bodies become fat, their hearts weaken and their desires grow out of control.’
(Ad-Du’afa of Imam Bukhari; See Lisanul Mizan, no: 5992 and Kitabul Ju’ of Ibn Abid Dunya, Hadith: 22 – Mawsu’ah, Hadith: 2917. Also see Targhib, Hadith: 3162)
The chain for this is weak, but tolerated for such topics.
Undoubtedly, one who habitually eats to his/her fill [over-eats] usually does end up like described above. This has been recorded from many of the pious predecessors. (See Kitabul Ju’ of Ibn Abid Dunya and Targhib, Hadith: 3156-3180 for many such warnings.)
There are indeed reports of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and the Sahabah (radiyallahu ‘anhum) occasionally eating till their fill. This does prove permissibility. However, there are several levels of ‘eating to one’s fill’ and the rulings differ for each type.
(Sahih Bukhari, with Fathul Bari, Hadith: 5381)
Furthermore, in general the Hadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) actually advocates eating less.
See: Targhib, Hadith: 3156-3180 for many such Hadiths.
One should refer to a Mufti/Darul Ifta for a fatwa in this regard.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar