Fatwa ID: 08586

 

 

Written by Alimah Aisha Qureshi

 

Question:

 

I have been trying to follow the Hadith about eating little i.e. “enough to keep one’s back straight”. However, I have now lost my periods. We think it is because I don’t weigh enough. The Sunnah is the best way of life. So how have I lost my periods following it?

 

 

Also, to get back to a higher weight, I need to eat more. I want to stick within the “eat to two thirds of your stomach limit” however my parents want me to exceed this. Do I follow the Sunnah or obey my parents?

 

 

  

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

Answer:

 

My dear respected sister may Allah commend you for your level of Taqwa that you have concerned yourself regarding your akhirah may Allah reward you abundantly for your question and your concern for following the sunnah of the prophet (saw).

 

Alhamdulillah it is good to know you are following the sunnah of the prophet saw in eating little i.e. enough to keep ones back straight.The hadith encourages Muslims to eat less dividing the stomach in three parts one for food one for water and one for air.

 

One must understand that eating less does not mean depriving oneself from the nutrients needed to function well it does not mean that you eat so little that it ends up causing you harm as everything we do should be in moderation. Also, if your periods are getting affected then that maybe a sign that your body isn’t getting the nutrients it requires and it would be beneficial to eat a healthier balanced diet all the while adhering to the sunnah and not overeating.Sunnah encourages us to treat our bodies with care, therefore nourishing your body is part from Islam.

 

Regarding obeying your parents or following sunnah it can be done hand in hand by eating healthier food and increasing your calorie intake and at the same time not overeating and therefore still be following the sunnah of the prophet saw and obeying your parents.

 

 

 

 

References

حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، كَانَ يَأْكُلُ أَكْلاً كَثِيرًا، فَأَسْلَمَ فَكَانَ يَأْكُلُ أَكْلاً قَلِيلاً، فَذُكِرَ ذَلِكَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ ‏ “‏ إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ يَأْكُلُ فِي مِعًى وَاحِدٍ، وَالْكَافِرَ يَأْكُلُ فِي سَبْعَةِ أَمْعَاءٍ ‏”‏‏.‏

Sahih Al-Bukhari 5397 sunnah.com

 

 

حَدَّثَنَا النُّفَيْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا قَابُوسُ بْنُ أَبِي ظَبْيَانَ، أَنَّ أَبَاهُ، حَدَّثَهُ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ إِنَّ الْهَدْىَ الصَّالِحَ وَالسَّمْتَ الصَّالِحَ وَالاِقْتِصَادَ جُزْءٌ مِنْ خَمْسَةٍ وَعِشْرِينَ جُزْءًا مِنَ النُّبُوَّةِ

Sunan Abu Dawud 4776 sunnah.com

 

 

 

 

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Alimah Aisha Qureshi

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham