Obesity And The Muslim Communities: How Can The Ummah (Muslim Communities) Address The Problem Of Obesity In Their Communities?

INTRODUCTION
In The Name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. All praise be to Allah. We praise Him and seek His help; we seek His forgiveness and guidance. We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our souls and our evil deeds. Whomever Allah guides, no one can lead astray, whomever He allows to go astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god except Allah, and that He has no partner. I also bear witness that Muhammad (PBUH) is His servant and messenger.

Obesity has become a serious issue worldwide and in many Muslim countries, especially in affluent and developed societies. Despite intense social pressures to have an ideal physique, rates of obesity continue to increase at alarming rates in most leading Muslim Communities as per the Economist statistics.

Moreover, there are number of factors which may cause or lead to obesity such as; overeating, poor sleep habits and poor stress management. To treat this issue, Radical bariatric surgical procedures have become one of the most effective methods in reducing weight in morbidly obese patients. These surgeries dramatically reduce the capacity of the stomach and impact satiety, even though these surgeries have many risks and carry long-term health consequences as well.

Thus, to address the problem of obesity in the Muslim Communities, the best approach is to examine and return to the solutions to the factors which can cause obesity from the divinely teachings and guidance of the noble Qur`an and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

In this article, it will be conversed; ways Muslim Communities can address and combat the problem of obesity in the community in the light of the Qur`an and sunnah.

ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM OF OBESITY IN THE MUSLIM COMMUNITIES

Prior to addressing the problem, the causes have to be known. In an article titled “Obesity and Eating in Islam” Mujahideen Ryder wrote:

“Factors that may cause obesity are: overeating, eating high-fat foods, high caloric, and/or high carbohydrates, sedentary lifeclass, poor sleep habits, poor stress management and genetics”

Also, in a project published in 2005, the authors wrote:

“Causes of obesity include: bad eating habits, metabolism, lack of exercise and genetics” [ii]

Now, the causes of obesity are known, addressing the problem by examining solutions to the causes can be discussed.

ADDRESSING OVEREATING
Overeating is not a befitting character that should be present in the Muslim communities as there are many verses in the noble Qur`an wherein Allah warned against excessiveness and extravagance and as well, there are numerous hadeeths of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in which he prohibited overeating in one way or the other. Thus, to address overeating in the Muslim Communities, Muslims do have to go back to the divinely teachings of Allah and His beloved Prophet (pbuh); learning and implementing them. Allah said:

“… Eat of (each of) its fruit when it yields and give its due (Zakah) on the day of its harvest. And be not excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess”(Q6:141) [iii] .

“… and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess”(Q7:31) [iv] .

In addition, the Prophet (pbuh) warned us about the dangers and health hazards of overeating. He was reported to have said:

“A human being fills no worse vessel than his stomach. It is sufficient for a human being to eat a few mouthfuls to keep his spine straight. But if he must (fill it), then one third of food, one third for drink and one third for air” [v]

Thus, Muslim Communities can address overeating – one of the notable causes of obesity by being moderate in their way of eating and by applying Sunnatic ways of eating.

ADDRESSING POOR SLEEPING HABITS
Sleeping well helps to fight obesity. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I (NHANES I) have shown that:

“Insulin sensitivity and levels of two appetite-related hormones — leptin and ghrelin — can be affected by sleep deprivation, which could impact weight.” [vi]

For Muslim Communities to address this, there are guidance in the Qur`an to follow. As for Allah does not want difficulties for them, He makes night meant for sleeping and daytime for seeking bounty. And Allah said:

“And of His signs is your sleep by night and day and your seeking of His bounty. Indeed in that are signs for a people who listen” (Q30:23) [vii]

“And made your sleep (a means for) rest” (Q78:9) [viii]

Al-Aswad (Allah pleased with him) narrated:
“I asked Aisha “How is the night prayer of the prophet?” she replied, “He used to sleep early at night, and get up in its last part to pray, and then return to his bed…” [ix]

It is understood from the quoted verses and hadith that, sleeping is recognized both in Qur`an and sunnah. Thus, Muslims should establish regular sleep – sleep at least 6-8 hours every night without waking up, in order to combat the problem of obesity in the Communities.

ADDRESSING LACK OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES
Lacking physical activity is another notable cause of obesity. To a degree, Muslims do not have to neglect physical activity as Islam encourages attention to physical health alongside spiritual health. All Muslims are to take care of their bodies and pursue a healthy lifeclass.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was reported to have said:

“The strong believer is better and more lovable to Allah than the weak believer…” [x]

Imam Ibnul-Qayyem stated that:
“Movement helped the body get rid of waste food in a very normal way and strengthened the body`s immune system.”

He (Ibnul-Qayyem) also stated: “each bodily organ has its own sport (movement) that suited it and that horse riding, archery, wrestling and racing, were sports that benefitted the whole body.” (Zad –Al-Ma`aad)

Thus, to address lack of physical activity as a factor which may lead to obesity, Muslims do have to engage in physical activities especially those encouraged by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) such as horse riding, archery, wrestling and racing.

OTHER WAYS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF OBESITY IN THE MUSLIM COMMUNITIES

Some of the other ways the problem of obesity can be addressed in the Muslim Communities are by engaging in religious obligations and services.

In an article titled, “How Islam Helps Obesity”, the author, Zafar Khan listed the following as some of the ways Islam helps obesity:

1. Ramadan and Voluntary fasting,
2. Salah and Tahajjud,
3. Congregation prayers,
4. walking to mosque,
5. eating within limits, and
6. the prophet`s medicine and fitness[xi]

CONCLUSION
In the light of the above discussion, it is understood that obesity has become a serious issue among Muslims and in many Muslim communities. There is a need for all Muslims who are obese to go back to the teachings and guidance of the noble Qur`an and the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). However, those who are genetically obese are to apply the rulings of Islam on moderation and not engage in any activity that will trigger their condition.

Written by Yusuff Ademola Adesina. A student of Islamic Online University, Gambia, of the department of psychology.

adesinayusuffademola@gmail.com

[ii] ________, Obesity: The Science Inside, New York: The American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2005. P.14-22

[iii] Al-An`am, verse 141, Saheeh International Translation

[iv] Al-A`raf, verse 31, Saheeh international Translation

[v] Narrated by Miqdam bin Madikarib, recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah, Book 29, Hadith 3474

[vi] Mirandi Hitti, Sleep More to Fight Obesity, November 16, 2004. http://www.webmd.com/diet/20041116/sleep-more-to-fight-obesity (accessed on June 6, 2015)

[vii] Surah Ar-rum, verse 23, Saheeh International Translation

[viii] Surah An-Nabai, verse 9, Saheeh International Translation

[ix] Sahih Bukhari, Book 19, Hadith 27.
[x] Narrated by Abu Huraira, reported in Sahih Muslim, Book 47, Hadith 6945

[xi] Zafar Khan, How Islam Helps Obesity, January 9, 2009 http://theislamawareness.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-islam-helps-control-obesity.html accessed on June 6, 2015

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