Some narrations regarding excessive eating

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A human being does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach. Enough for the son of Adam are a few morsels to keep his back straight. If it cannot be avoided, then a third is for food, a third for drink, and a third for breath."

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A Muslim eats in one intestine and an unbeliever in seven intestines." An-Nawawi explained this hadith by saying, "The seven attributes of the unbeliever are avarice, gluttony, excessive expectation, bad nature, envy and love of obesity."

It is related that' A'isha said, "The first disaster which occurred to this community after its Prophet died was satiety. When people fill their stomachs, their bodies become fat, their hearts weak and their appetites ingrained."

It is related that'Atiyya ibn'Amir al-Juhani said that he heard Salman say when he was forced to eat some food, "It is enough for me that I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, "The people who fill themselves the most in this world will be the hungriest on the Day of Rising."

Ibn Bujayr, one of the Companions, said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, felt hungry one day. He took a stone and tied it against his stomach and then said, 'Those who eat well and are comfortable in this world will be hungry and naked on the Day of Rising. Anyone who is generous to his lower self will be humbled before it. Anyone who humbles his lower self is being generous to it."

It is related from Abu Umama that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "There will be men of my community who consume diverse kinds of food and diverse kinds of drink, wear diverse kinds of clothing and speak in an affected way. They are the worst of my community."

One righteous man said, "Do not be led astray by the words of the Almighty, 'Eat and drink.' The outward meaning of the ayat is honouring and giving enjoyment. But inwardly it is a test and trial so that He can see who is with Him and who is simply self-indulgent."

Ibn at-Tin said, "People are in three categories in respect of food. One group eats every kind of food, necessary and superfluous. This is the behaviour of the people of the Jahiliyya. Another group eats what will allay hunger when they are hungry. Another group make ,themselves hungry, intending by that to curb the appetite of the self. When they eat, they eat enough to keep themselves alive."

Al-Qurtubi said, "There are seven appetites for food: the appetite of nature, the appetite of the lower self, the appetite of the eye, the appetite of the mouth, the appetite of the ear, the appetite of the nose and the appetite of hunger. The last is the necessary one by which the believer eats."

Source: "Dealing with lust and greed according to Islam" by Sheikh 'Abd aI-Hamid Kishk