The Eating Habits Of Highly-Effective Muslims

Subhan Allah, we eat like kings compared to the best of generations – yet I wonder if we are even one-tenth as grateful.

1. Yahya related to me from Malik, from Abu’z-Zinad, from al-Araj, from Abu Hurayra, that the Messenger of Allah, sal Allahu alaihi wasallam, said: “The food of two is sufficient for three, and the food of three is sufficient for four.”
Reported in the Muwatta of Imam Malik. Book 49, Number 49.10.20.

2. Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus Christ), alaihis assalam, used to say: “O Banu Israil! You must drink pure water, and the green vegetation of the land, and barley bread. Beware of wheat bread, for you will not be grateful enough for it.”
Reported in the Muwatta of Imam Malik. Book 49, Number 49.10.27.

3. Yahya related to me from Malik from Yahya ibn Said that Umar ibn al-Khattab was eating bread with ghee (cooking butter). He summoned one of the desert people, and that person began to eat and follow the grease in the dish with a morsel of bread.

Umar said, “It is as if you were poor.” The bedouin said, “By Allah, I have not eaten ghee, nor have I seen food with it since such-and-such a time.”

Umar declared, “(Then) I shall not eat ghee until people are given life again like they were first given life.” (i.e. Umar voluntarily disavowed himself from a luxury that the poor in his empire could not afford.)
Reported in the Muwatta of Imam Malik. Book 49, Number 49.10.29.

4. Yahya related to me, from Malik, from Yahya ibn Said, that Umar ibn al-Khattab said: “Beware of meat. It has an addiction like the addiction to wine.”
Reported in the Muwatta of Imam Malik. Book 49, Number 49.10.36.

5. Yahya related to me from Malik, that he heard that the Messenger of Allah, sal Allahu alaihi wasallam, entered the masjid and found Abu Bakr as-Siddiq and Umar ibn al-Khattab there. He questioned them and they said, “Hunger has driven us out.” The Messenger of Allah, sal Allahu alaihi wasallam, said, “And hunger has brought me out.”

They went to Abu’l-Haytham ibn at-Tayyihan al-Ansari. Abu’l-Haytham ordered that some barley that was in the house be prepared, and he got up to slaughter a sheep for them. The Messenger of Allah, sal Allahu alaihi wasallam, said, “Leave the one that gives milk.” He slaughtered a sheep for them and brought them sweet water and it was hung on a palm tree.

Then they were brought the food and they ate it and drank the water. The Messenger of Allah, sal Allahu alaihi wasallam, recited, “Then on That Day, you will be questioned about the good things (you were given).
” [Qur’an 102:8]
Reported in the Muwatta of Imam Malik. Book 49, Number 49.10.28.