Maintaining a Healthy Diet as a Form of Muslim Worship

Maintaining a Healthy Diet as a Form of Muslim Worship

By: Muhammad Luthfi Adnan (20712132)

 

Currently, people's diet tends towards consuming unhealthy foods such as fast food which is high in fat. This is due to the fast-paced life of society, so they do not pay attention to the food they consume. As a result, many diseases are developing in society related to unhealthy eating patterns, such as coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and cancer.

This condition is clearly not ideal for Muslims, where the Prophet Muhammad expected his people to be healthy people as in one of the hadiths which says “Strong believers are better and more loved by Allah than weak believers; and in both there is goodness, "(HR. Muslim). One of the efforts that can be made to stay physically strong is to maintain a healthy diet in order to form a strong believer's character as loved by Allah.

The way to maintain a healthy diet can be done by paying attention to the intake and content of the food consumed. One way is to reduce the consumption of foods that contain high fat such as fast food and increase the consumption of vegetables and fruit. Many studies have shown the effect of improving food intake which can avoid the risk of various diseases and provide healthful effects.

One of the studies conducted by Willems and friends in 2021 entitled "Effects of macronutrient intake in obesity: a meta-analysis of low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets on markers of the metabolic syndrome” showed the effect of consuming low-fat foods can reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome which is the cause of many diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Another study conducted by Schwingshackl and colleagues in 2015 entitled "Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Changes in Anthropometric Variables in Adult Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies.” can lose weight and reduce the risk of obesity which can increase the risk of diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

Allah Subhanahuwata'ala has taught His people to eat nutritious foods such as fruits and vegetables mongunsimsi. Allha SWt has given instructions in the Qur'an in QS Ar-Ra'du: 4 which has been explained that "And in this earth there are parts that are side by side, and vineyards, plants and date palms that are branched and unbranched, watered with the same water. We exaggerate some of these plants over others in terms of taste. Indeed, in that there are signs (of Allah's greatness) for people who think." In addition, in QS An-Nahl: 14, Allah SWT also says "And it is He, Allah who subdued the sea (for you), so that you can eat from it fresh meat (fish)."

Allah SWT recommends that his people consume vegetables, fruit and fish because the nutritional content in vegetables, fruit and fish is high so it is good for the health of His servants. By being healthy servants, we can worship to the fullest and add to the good deeds that can be done. Therefore, let us as Muslims who have been chosen as the best people among the people before we take care of our own health by consuming healthy food so that we can worship properly.