“For drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags” {proverbs 23:21}
By the early 20th century, psychiatrists began to describe conditions (e.g. brain tumors; schizophrenia, atypical depression) that led to overeating. This was also the era of Freud’s influence, and Occhiogrosso describes some analysts as portraying overeating in adults as reflective of “a flawed, inadequate personality structure” with “excessive orality.” The first eating disorder to be included in psychiatric nomenclature was anorexia nervosa in the first edition of the DSM in the 1950s, and it would take another thirty years for bulimia nervosa, which in addition to binge eat is followed with purging {Induced vomiting} a known action for ones excessive preoccupation of their weight and shape. Since both share similar symptoms, both conditions have been entered into the official diagnostic compendium.
Gluttony as understood from its medieval collection of deadly sins, is considered now beyond just mere desirous indulgence, its now classified as an actual disorder that affects certain parts of the brain that control feelings of hunger. In pathology, its been attributed to low self-esteem, clinical depression, and other psychological problems. Therefore, it has largely been attributed to emotional provocation, rather than a purely physical one. Yet, some see gluttony as a self-feeding, self-defeating cycle that grows by participation; Excessive eating equals excessive weight gain, which leads to lower self-esteem, higher levels of depression and more stress, which Is a vicious cycle. Researchers found that these cravings follow a predictable curve: they build, peak, then subside. The best way to foil a craving is to take your mind off it, preferably by doing something incompatible with eating, such as going for a long walk or anything else that exerts physical activity. Physical activity usually tends to put people in a more health conscious frame of mind, and after such activity hunger or thirst are easier to be nourished with healthy foods/drink. So called comfort foods are usually approached from conditions of Stress, which makes a person eat more quickly than anything else", and the foods a person seeks under stress is more likely to be fatty, pleasurable things that are soft or creamy, hence the name “comforting food” (aka comfort foods).
Gluttonous eating, or binge eating as it is called nowadays, stems from several environmental, biochemical, and psychological factors. The main cause arises from clinical depression, stress and psychological trauma, according to Maria Simonson, Ph.D., Sc.D., and director of the health, weight and stress clinic at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore.
Gluttony as understood from its medieval collection of deadly sins, is considered now beyond just mere desirous indulgence, its now classified as an actual disorder that affects certain parts of the brain that control feelings of hunger. In pathology, its been attributed to low self-esteem, clinical depression, and other psychological problems. Therefore, it has largely been attributed to emotional provocation, rather than a purely physical one. Yet, some see gluttony as a self-feeding, self-defeating cycle that grows by participation; Excessive eating equals excessive weight gain, which leads to lower self-esteem, higher levels of depression and more stress, which Is a vicious cycle. Researchers found that these cravings follow a predictable curve: they build, peak, then subside. The best way to foil a craving is to take your mind off it, preferably by doing something incompatible with eating, such as going for a long walk or anything else that exerts physical activity. Physical activity usually tends to put people in a more health conscious frame of mind, and after such activity hunger or thirst are easier to be nourished with healthy foods/drink. So called comfort foods are usually approached from conditions of Stress, which makes a person eat more quickly than anything else", and the foods a person seeks under stress is more likely to be fatty, pleasurable things that are soft or creamy, hence the name “comforting food” (aka comfort foods).
Gluttonous eating, or binge eating as it is called nowadays, stems from several environmental, biochemical, and psychological factors. The main cause arises from clinical depression, stress and psychological trauma, according to Maria Simonson, Ph.D., Sc.D., and director of the health, weight and stress clinic at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore.
Salman reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, the people who ate to their fill the most in this world will be the hungriest on the Day of Resurrection.”Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 3351
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Suyuti عَنْ سَلْمَان قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ شِبَعًا فِي الدُّنْيَا أَطْوَلُهُمْ جُوعًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ 3351 سنن ابن ماجه كتاب الأطعمة باب الاقتصاد في الأكل وكراهة الشبع 2211 المحدث السيوطي خلاصة حكم المحدث صحيح في الجامع الصغير |
Though binge-eating disorder is now part of our psychiatric nomenclature, not all psychiatrists agree it should be. Dr. Allen Frances, who had been the chairman for DSM IV, in his excellent book, Saving Normal, describes the “diagnostic inflation” that has occurred over the years such that we tend to medicalize conditions that he believes are part and parcel of the normal human condition. In other words, instead of looking always to medicalize every human issue with mental disorders {being usually the extreme of persistent human involvement as a consequence to out of control desires}, what has happened to asking or looking at our environments, human-development & our individuality and the behaviors we exhibit that start us upon the path to becoming gluttonous?
Dr. Frances describes how “gluttony has become mental illness” and notes that changes in public policy in contrast to “phony psychiatric” labeling that has been used to stem the tide of our obesity epidemic. These phony Diagnoses have led pharmaceutical companies to engage in major (and somewhat offensive) campaigns to market their products. The most recent, relevant occurrence involves the medication “lisdexamphetamine” (Vyvanse); initially released in 2007 for the treatment of attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, has now also been recently approved in January 2015 for binge-eating disorder. Side effects include feeling jittery, insomnia, decreased appetite, dry mouth, increased heart rate, and constipation. Perhaps the side effects it produces is the reason why its prescribe, looking at that portion as the medicinal effort. Like some of the fat burning health food powders and pills that raise the heart rate {metabolism}, and disregard the long-term effects.
It is not clear how long a person should remain on the medication, and it is likely that once discontinued, the binges will return.
Holy Quran 7:31
۞ يَٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ خُذُوا۟ زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ
O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid {dress well while attending pray}, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.
Holy Quran 2:188
وَلَا تَأْكُلُوٓا۟ أَمْوَٰلَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِٱلْبَٰطِلِ وَتُدْلُوا۟ بِهَآ إِلَى ٱلْحُكَّامِ لِتَأْكُلُوا۟ فَرِيقًا مِّنْ أَمْوَٰلِ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْإِثْمِ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
And do not consume one another s wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful].
Holy Quran 17:27
إِنَّ ٱلْمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوٓا۟ إِخْوَٰنَ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينِ ۖ وَكَانَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ لِرَبِّهِۦ كَفُورًا
Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful.
Dr. Frances describes how “gluttony has become mental illness” and notes that changes in public policy in contrast to “phony psychiatric” labeling that has been used to stem the tide of our obesity epidemic. These phony Diagnoses have led pharmaceutical companies to engage in major (and somewhat offensive) campaigns to market their products. The most recent, relevant occurrence involves the medication “lisdexamphetamine” (Vyvanse); initially released in 2007 for the treatment of attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, has now also been recently approved in January 2015 for binge-eating disorder. Side effects include feeling jittery, insomnia, decreased appetite, dry mouth, increased heart rate, and constipation. Perhaps the side effects it produces is the reason why its prescribe, looking at that portion as the medicinal effort. Like some of the fat burning health food powders and pills that raise the heart rate {metabolism}, and disregard the long-term effects.
It is not clear how long a person should remain on the medication, and it is likely that once discontinued, the binges will return.
Holy Quran 7:31
۞ يَٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ خُذُوا۟ زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ
O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid {dress well while attending pray}, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.
- The directive to pray in a proper and decent dress is aimed at refuting the misconception entertained by ignorant people down the ages that man should worship Allah either in a nude or semi-naked state, or at least have a shabby and unkempt appearance while worshiping. In this verse people are being told the opposite of this. At the time of worship they should not only be free from all kinds of nudity and indecency, but should also be in a decent dress.
Holy Quran 2:188
وَلَا تَأْكُلُوٓا۟ أَمْوَٰلَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِٱلْبَٰطِلِ وَتُدْلُوا۟ بِهَآ إِلَى ٱلْحُكَّامِ لِتَأْكُلُوا۟ فَرِيقًا مِّنْ أَمْوَٰلِ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْإِثْمِ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
And do not consume one another s wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful].
Holy Quran 17:27
إِنَّ ٱلْمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوٓا۟ إِخْوَٰنَ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينِ ۖ وَكَانَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ لِرَبِّهِۦ كَفُورًا
Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful.
Gluttony is the opposite of chastity, which here applies to the private parts, but also extends its applicable meaning to a condition chastity promotes; “Self-Control”. Gluttony stands for the excessive desires for food and sex the two most promote urges for human-beings. It’s a mean tendency indicating self-feebleness, greedy nature, and slavery of instincts or desires. For those of you who have read my other pages {and I appreciate and love you interest}, you should now begin to see some overlap in the symptoms or problems we human-beings attach to ourselves through the gluttonous enslavement of indulgence. However, for all the many problems we find ourselves, we see the prescribe Islamic cures and deterrents are always: fasting, avoidance, covering the private parts, protecting the heart, good and pure nourishment, honesty, justice, patience {which is also perseverance}, obedience to Allah, salah {prayer}...
Holy Quran 2:45
وَٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلْخَٰشِعِينَ
And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult [on everybody] except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]
Once, Umar ibn Al-Khattab (ra) a close companion of the prophet (saw) and 2nd calipha of the Muslim ummah after the prophets (saw) death; he {Umar} ate some dates, drank water, and then beat on his stomach with his hand and said: “Away with him who lets his stomach cause him to be in Hell.” He then recited the poetic verse:
“Whenever you respond to the desires of your stomach and genitals, they both will give nothing but the extreme dispraise.” The wisdoms behind the words of Umar (ra) lye in the fact that no matter how much you feed into both of these tremendous desires, nothing will ever satiate them...For after anyone seeks out to satisfy them, he/she has only temporarily done so...
Al-Hasan reported: Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, saw a man with a large belly and he said, “What is this?” The man said, “It is a blessing from Allah.” Umar said, “No, rather it is a punishment.”Source: Ḥadīth Muḥammad ibn ‘Abd Allāh al-Anṣārī 42
عَنِ الْحَسَنِ أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ رَأَى رَجُلا عَظِيمَ الْبَطْنِ فَقَالَ مَا هَذَا قَالَ بَرَكَةٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ قَالَ بَلْ عَذَابٌ
42 حديث محمد بن عبد الله الأنصاري
Holy Quran 2:45
وَٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلْخَٰشِعِينَ
And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult [on everybody] except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]
Once, Umar ibn Al-Khattab (ra) a close companion of the prophet (saw) and 2nd calipha of the Muslim ummah after the prophets (saw) death; he {Umar} ate some dates, drank water, and then beat on his stomach with his hand and said: “Away with him who lets his stomach cause him to be in Hell.” He then recited the poetic verse:
“Whenever you respond to the desires of your stomach and genitals, they both will give nothing but the extreme dispraise.” The wisdoms behind the words of Umar (ra) lye in the fact that no matter how much you feed into both of these tremendous desires, nothing will ever satiate them...For after anyone seeks out to satisfy them, he/she has only temporarily done so...
Al-Hasan reported: Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, saw a man with a large belly and he said, “What is this?” The man said, “It is a blessing from Allah.” Umar said, “No, rather it is a punishment.”Source: Ḥadīth Muḥammad ibn ‘Abd Allāh al-Anṣārī 42
عَنِ الْحَسَنِ أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ رَأَى رَجُلا عَظِيمَ الْبَطْنِ فَقَالَ مَا هَذَا قَالَ بَرَكَةٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ قَالَ بَلْ عَذَابٌ
42 حديث محمد بن عبد الله الأنصاري
Islam points to Gluttony as the source of every common malady, and Modern medicine has proved that most of the diseases, curls, lines on the skins that deform the attractive lineaments of men and women, accumulation of fats, deepness of eyes, exhausting powers {affects our energy source or soul}, and ailed mentalities-the reason of all these defects is due to continued gluttonous behaviors and the consumption of fatty foods. It has also been proved that overeating exhausts the stomach and creates various sorts of unhealthy troubles, such as arteriosclerosis {thickening & hardening of arterial walls}, angina pectoris {sever pain in the chest}, hypertension, and diabetes.
As for sexual gluttony, its indulgence causes similar defects, such as impotence of the public health, which means if society becomes overly indulgent in sexism then the problems that arise within society will contribute to the demise of the overall public health literally & figuratively in the sense that relationships and the institutions of marriage will become damage beyond repair or honored. Further still {from sexual gluttony} is the disappearance of nervous power {an excessive of energy that you have when you are apprehensive or worried}, and vanishing of vitality {being strong and active}.
Ibn Abi Dunya reported: Abu Ja’far, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “When the belly is full, the body will transgress.”Source: al-Jū’ li-Ibn Abī Dunyā 23
عن ابن أبي دنيا عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ رحمه الله قَالَ إِذَا امْتَلأَ الْبَطْنُ طَغَى الْجَسَدُ
الجوع
The Prophet (s) said: "My umma {nation of Muslims} will be kept in goodness so long as they do not breach the trusts of each other, keep on fulfilling their trusts, and defray the zakat; otherwise, they will be inflicted with famine and harsh years of draught."
"The fulfillment of the trusts brings sustenance, while treachery causes poverty."
"He who breaches the trust is not one of us."
Imam as-Sadiq (a) said: "Do not be deceived by their very much offering of prayers and observance of fasting. In fact, prayers and fasting have become habits that they feel desolate if they omit them. You should test them by their truthfulness and fulfillment of trusts."
As for sexual gluttony, its indulgence causes similar defects, such as impotence of the public health, which means if society becomes overly indulgent in sexism then the problems that arise within society will contribute to the demise of the overall public health literally & figuratively in the sense that relationships and the institutions of marriage will become damage beyond repair or honored. Further still {from sexual gluttony} is the disappearance of nervous power {an excessive of energy that you have when you are apprehensive or worried}, and vanishing of vitality {being strong and active}.
Ibn Abi Dunya reported: Abu Ja’far, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “When the belly is full, the body will transgress.”Source: al-Jū’ li-Ibn Abī Dunyā 23
عن ابن أبي دنيا عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ رحمه الله قَالَ إِذَا امْتَلأَ الْبَطْنُ طَغَى الْجَسَدُ
الجوع
The Prophet (s) said: "My umma {nation of Muslims} will be kept in goodness so long as they do not breach the trusts of each other, keep on fulfilling their trusts, and defray the zakat; otherwise, they will be inflicted with famine and harsh years of draught."
"The fulfillment of the trusts brings sustenance, while treachery causes poverty."
"He who breaches the trust is not one of us."
Imam as-Sadiq (a) said: "Do not be deceived by their very much offering of prayers and observance of fasting. In fact, prayers and fasting have become habits that they feel desolate if they omit them. You should test them by their truthfulness and fulfillment of trusts."
Imran ibn Hussein reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The best of you belong to my generation, then those who follow them, and then those who follow them. Verily, after you will come deceitful people who cannot be trusted. They will swear oaths without being asked to swear oaths, they will make vows they do not fulfill, and gluttony will prevail among them.”
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2508, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2535
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim
عن عمران بن حصين رضي الله عنهما قال قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَيْرُكُمْ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ إِنَّ بَعْدَكُمْ قَوْمًا يَخُونُونَ وَلَا يُؤْتَمَنُونَ وَيَشْهَدُونَ وَلَا يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ وَيَنْذِرُونَ وَلَا يَفُونَ وَيَظْهَرُ فِيهِمْ السِّمَنُ
2508 صحيح البخاري كتاب الشهادات باب لا يشهد على شهادة جور إذا أشهد
2535 صحيح مسلم كتاب فضائل الصحابة باب فضل الصحابة رضي الله تعالى عنهم ثم الذين يلونهم ثم الذين يلونهم
Mujahid reported: Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “O people, beware of gluttony in eating. Verily, it causes laziness in prayer, it harms the body, it contracts disease, and Allah Almighty detests the fatness of a cleric. Rather, you must be moderate in your provisions, for it is closer to righteousness, further from extravagance, and stronger for the worship of Allah. Verily, a servant is not destroyed unless he prefers his desires over his religion.”
Source: al-Jū’ li-Ibn Abī Dunyā 81
عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ قَالَ قَالَ عُمَرُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِيَّاكُمْ وَالْبِطْنَةَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ فَإِنَّهَا مَكْسَلَةٌ عَنِ الصَّلاةِ مُفْسِدَةٌ لِلْجَسَدِ مُوَرِّثَةٌ لِلسَّقَمِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يُبْغِضُ الْحَبْرَ السَّمِينَ وَلَكِنْ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْقَصْدِ فِي قُوتِكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ أَدْنَى مِنَ الإِصْلاحِ وَأَبْعَدُ مِنَ السَّرَفِ وَأَقْوَى عَلَى عِبَادَةِ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّهُ لَنْ يَهْلِكَ عَبْدٌ حَتَّى يُؤْثَرَ شَهْوَتَهُ عَلَى دِينِهِ
81 الجوع لابن أبي الدنيا