Wednesday, Safar 6, 1426 H, March 16, 2005
Assalam alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakaatuh.
Thank Allah
Okay, so I admit I woke up a bit late today. Alright, alright, quite late. My stomach was growling and rightly so. Grabbed a slice of yellow cake and was on my way. Yeah, it's obvious isn't it? I'm trying to lose some weight here. Hey, aren't we all? Obesity is one of the biggest problems facing the developed world these days. Seems like the fatter our wallets get, the fatter our bodies become. What else do you with the money? If you can't eat up and enjoy life, money, won't matter much, huh?
Easy to say, easy to laugh about. But not if you're one of those who wake up in the morning, knowing that they need to line up in front of the relief center for something to eat. It's not such a light thing if you go to sleep on an empty stomach and wake up the next day to an empty refrigerator (or basket). Or if you had to live on food coupons and welfare. Or if you were in a refugee camp, with no gas to light a stove or flour to bake or rice to cook. Or if you had to fight with your neighbor for those last drops of clean, cold water. Or show your malnutritioned baby to convince that worn-out aid worker that you need that can of oil more than your own friend.
So, next time you pop a muffin in your mouth without giving it a second thought, stop right there and thank Allah. And when you come back from school and mom says its veggies day, don't you make a face, but think of those who'd do anything for even that. And when you rummage the refrigerator, looking for that favorite bar of milk chocolate and you don't find it, don't slam that door in frustration, rather thank Allah that at least you own a fridge, and a full one at that. And when you want to hang out with your buddies after dinner with mom and dad and you wolf down that food to get it over with, pause and think of how many people you could feed with those morsels.
Look at your kitchen today and thank Allah for food that keeps you going. Be grateful to Him and give some out in charity, even if it's half a date.
Help me be thankful
Appreciate food by:
- Knowing that malnutrition contributes to the deaths of more than 6 million children under age five each year (UNICEF); 5 and 20 million people die of starvation, every year.
- Knowing that one billion people in the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition.
- Knowing that about 24,000 people die each day from hunger or hunger-related causes.
- Talking to a worker at your local soup shelter or an aid worker dispatched to countries abroad.
- Opening your refrigerator and/or kitchen cabinets anytime and seeing that there is food there.
- Inviting the needy to share in your lunch.
Words of wisdom
"And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sâbirin (the patient ones, etc.). Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: "Truly! To Allâh we belong and truly, to Him we shall return." They are those on whom are the Salawât (i.e. blessings, etc.) (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided-ones." (Quran 2:155-157)
Resolutions
I am thankful for food and I will:
- say 'Bismillah' (In the Name of Allah) before I eat food and 'Alhamdulillah' (all praise be to Allah) after.
- take care of my body by eating only that which will benefit it.
- keep away from junk food.
- make sure my neighbor or friend does not go hungry while I eat to my fill.
- cook or buy some lunch and distribute it to those guys who have no families, occasionally.
- not complain about the food served in front of me; if I like it, I should eat it and if I don't, I will simply abstain.
- eat only Halal food and meat which is slaughtered Islamically.
- eat with my right hand and from what is in front of me.
- not insist on consuming what Allah has forbidden, such as pork and wine.
- eat not till my stomach feels like it's going to burst, but rather, a moderate amount; 1/3 for food, 1/3 for water and 1/3 for air, as the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam advised.
Thank Allah... Online
The Hunger Site - http://www.thehungersite.com
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