You
can mix your food prior to eating
If there are various varieties of
food like bread, gravy, rice, samosas etc., it is also possible to take a
little quantity of each item and mix all of them together prior to eating. In
this way, the flavour of the food may decrease, which will somewhat help in
overcoming Nafs but one should be cautious in mixing food in a public
gathering. However, if the gathering has been hosted by an Islamic brother of
the Madanī environment and it is obvious that mixing the food will not cause
resentment in the heart of the host and there is no fear of ostentation as
well, then there is no harm in mixing the food. It is better that an Islamic
brother ask the host to allow all the guests to eat as they like. If the host
grants permission, the guests can eat in any way they prefer. Someone once told
me (the author) that he saw a person who took a small portion of various types
of food and mixed all of them prior to eating. People expressed surprise at
this; he replied that all the food would eventually mix in his stomach, so he
had mixed the food beforehand.
Method
of eating less in presence of others
One of the ways of avoiding the
insistence of the host and ostentation in the presence of others is to eat
small morsels with three fingers chewing them properly. Always try to act upon
these Sunnaĥs. In wedding feasts etc., people often eat quickly; they are
normally so engrossed in eating that nobody will probably notice you. Even
then, if you feel that perhaps you will finish earlier than others, you should
suck the bones. In this way, you will hopefully finish with others. If somebody
eats less in the presence of others because of ostentation so that people
consider him as a pious person, it is a Ḥarām act that may lead him to Hell. It
is extremely important to refrain from ostentation. The Holy Prophet ﷺ has said, 'Allah does not accept the deed
in which there is ostentation equal to (the amount of) even a particle.'
(Attarghīb Wattarhīb, vol. 1,
pp. 87)
There is no harm in revealing a good
deed with the righteous intention of inspiring others (do the same) such as
expressing gratitude for a divine bounty. Similarly, if religious leaders,
teachers and Shuyūkh reveal their deed in the presence of their followers,
students and disciples respectively with the same intention, it is also
permissible. However, one should carefully ponder whether the objective is to
inspire others and express gratitude or not. If the intention of impressing
others with piety exists even in the depths of the heart, it is an act of ostentation
that may lead to Hell.
Sincerity
is key to acceptance
Eating food to a full stomach
throughout life is not a sin, but a single act of ostentation in the whole life
is a sin, which can lead to Hell. If a person eats less in the presence of
others, giving the impression as if he has applied the Madanī guard to his
stomach, but when he reaches his home he devours various types of foods like a
hungry lion - such a person is an outright show-off (ostentatious) and is
worthy of Hell. Without doubt, wise is he who eats in the company of others in
such a way that nobody notices his less eating and maintains the Madanī guard
to his stomach at his home and other places. Every deed should be performed
just for the pleasure of Allah as sincerity is the key to acceptance.
Trial
for those that eat less
Dear Islamic brothers! It is
possible that one will face many trials as a result of applying the Madanī
guard to the stomach, i.e. making a habit of eating less. In the beginning, you
may become weak and peevish. Some 'well-wishers' may well try to talk you out
of it, whereas others may frighten you of the impending weakness; thus
psychologically stressing you out. Moreover, hunger and desire for food may
further increase because of quick digestion of food due to improvement in the
digestive system by the blessing of eating less. Further, the aroma of the food
being cooked anywhere will make your mouth water and you may yield to excessive
eating. Likewise, you may face a tough trial, especially in the month of Ramadan
at the time of Ifṭār due to extreme hunger and thirst, when you will be seeing
different types of delicious aromatic foods prepared at your home. Similarly,
you will find it very difficult to resist the desire of eating on the occasion
of Eid-ul-Aḍḥā when roasted and aromatic meat will be placed before you. But,
despite all these trials and tests, you should never lose your courage and
determination. Always remember the following Ḥadīš of the Beloved and Blessed
Prophet ﷺ, 'The best worship is the one in which
there is more hardship.'
(Kashf-ul-Khifā, vol. 1, pp.
175)
صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبِيْبِ ۞ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ
تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد
Eat
less for forty days consecutively
It is also possible that you will
succeed in applying the Madanī guard to your stomach for a few days, but you
may begin to eat excessively again. You should not give up hope if it happens.
You should continue to persevere with the Madanī guard on your stomach. If your
habit of less-eating ever breaks, resume it with new spirit. For example, make
the intention of applying the Madanī guard to your stomach for seven days in
relation to the seven letters of بِسْمِ اللّٰه.
In the same manner, apply the Madanī guard to the stomach for twelve days in
relation to 12th Rabī'-ul-Awwal, 15 days in relation to the month of Sha'bān
and thirty days in Ramadan.
Make an effort to eat less for forty
consecutive days. اِنْ شَآءَاللّٰه عَزَّوَجَلَّ,
by doing this, you would be blessed with attaining steadfastness in this deed,
as Sayyidunā Wahb Bin Munabbeĥ has stated, 'If a person makes a habit of doing
something for forty days, Allah makes that habit a part of his nature.'
(Risāla-tul-Qushayriyyaĥ, pp.
243)
صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبِيْبِ ۞ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ
تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد
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