Our Body, our Amanah (trust)

Bismillah

Preserving ones’ health and body is an obligation. Hence, it is required that one avoids everything that can cause harm to the body, and use that which is beneficial.

Health is indeed a great favour from Allah SWT for which a believer must be thankful.

While speaking on the great favour of good health, the Prophet SAWS said, ‘There are two gifts which many men are unmindful about – good health and leisure.’ (Bukhari).

The Prophet SAWS also encouraged his followers to pray for good health. He SAWS said, ‘No supplication is more pleasing to Allah than a request for good health.’ (Tirmidhi). Another tradition narrates that a Bedouin once asked the Prophet SAWS, saying, ‘O Prophet of Allah SWT, what supplication shall I make to Allah after I have finished doing the Salah? The Prophet SAWS said, ‘Ask for good health’.

From these hadith, it is seen that good health is indeed a great gift from Allah SWT. One should appreciate his heath, value it and refrain from doing or consuming anything that can destroy his health or body.

Allah Has instructed the believers in the Holy Qur'an by saying, ‘Eat and Drink, but not excessively’ (7:31).

The Prophet (s.a.w) also advised the believers with respect to eating and drinking when he said, ‘The children of Adam fill no vessel worse than the way in which they fill their stomachs. Let the children of Adam have a few mouthfuls to strengthen the loins. If possible, one third of the stomach is for food, one third for drink, and one third for ones’ breath.’ (Tirmidhi; An Nasai).

If you don’t care for your body and health, then it means that you are not showing appreciation and value for the great favour Allah SWT Has given to you, and this will amount to being ungrateful to Allah SWT.

Also, if you are allowing yourself to be in a state which may/would cause different problems to come upon you, and you are not doing anything to preserve your good health, then it means that you are allowing yourself to fall into destruction and you are contributing to the destruction of your own health which is Haraam (unlawful) in Islam. Allah Has himself prohibited us from this and said, ‘And do not throw yourselves into destruction.’ (2: 195).

I leave you with this

May Allah SWT make it easy on us, forgive us and help us to good Health Ameen ya rab-bil Alemeen