Ihsaan Magazine August 2016 | Page 23

Health & Lifestyle The Prophet Muhammad (s) clearly stated how we should eat and gave us two options. Umar ibn Al-Khattab (ra) reiterated the point by saying “O’ people, beware of eating too much, for it makes you lazy in prayer, is bad for your body and causes sickness. Allah hates the fat man. Rather you should be moderate in your eating, for that is closer to righteousness and farther removed from extravagance, and makes one stronger to worship Allah. No person will be doomed unless he gives precedence to his desires over his religious commitment.” [Al-Khaleefah al-Farooq, by Dr.’Abdur Rahman al-’Ani] Allah told us in the Quran “Do not be sad”. Now you may be wondering what that has to do with exercising. When we exercise our bodies release chemicals called endorphins that interact with the receptors in our brain that then reduces our perception of pain and triggers a positive feeling in our bodies. It’s our natural “feel good”/”happy tonic”. This mood that exercising puts us in; helps with our life in so many different ways. You become more grateful and contented for things that you have in this world. You learn to love yourself and this love transfers over to those around Eating is a big part of being fit and the Prophet Muhammad (s) and Umar ibn Al-Khattab (