The Inner Dimensions of Digestion

Umar ibn Abi Salamah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to me, “Young man, mention the name of Allah, eat with your right hand, and eat what it is front of you.”

-Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim

REMEMBERING GOD

By remembering God you are sacralizing the act and connected it to the highest levels of existence. When the spirit connects with God, the body on the other end of that connection benefits, specifically in regards to the physiological function that the name of God is being mentioned for- here, the stomach and digestion. 

You are also shielding the act from any and all evil and satanic influences, as the devils do not partake in acts in which the name of God has been invoked. 

Too many people are eating in bad company nowadays as a result of this lack of awareness of reality.  

EATING WITH THE RIGHT

In Traditional Chinese Medicine certain organs are associated with the right- and left-sidedness of the body. The right side of the body is associated with stomach/spleen which are the primary organs of digestion in the body; so actions performed via the right upper limb directly connects and up-regulates these functions. 

By eating with your right hand you are also harmonizing with the Fitra and spiritually connecting with those “of the Right Hand.” The more righteous acts one does with their right hand, the more they become amongst the company of the Right. 

The company of the Right being those who are destined for eternal felicity and well-being. When we connect with those people we attain moral well-being, and make forward movement towards securing a destiny of everlasting well-being as we follow the Prophet ﷺ in his outward and inward actions and states. 

EATING WHAT IS CLOSEST

By eating with what is nearest to you, you are honoring the table-spread and demonstrating adab, i.e proper social etiquette. Adab is one of the highest marks of a noble and mature soul and is the highest fruition of psychological, emotional, moral, and spiritual development. 

When we have adab we are putting things in their proper place. Akin to the body metabolizing nutrition from our food, assimilating and distributing it to the different parts of the body, and eliminating waste, when we hold to adab we move in the world gracefully in a way that optimizes benefit and reduces harm. 

When we hold to adab we hold ourselves to all of virtue and actively build a world that is constructive and regeneratively good for all. 

And so in conclusion, we can see this Prophetic teaching as a map. A method. An alchemical formula that can be used in any outward action. 

Our daily meals being the perfect place to begin:

In the name of God. 

———

Mazen Atassi, ND

Dr. Mazen is a naturopathic doctor, classic homeopath, and Hikma therapist. To learn more about him and his services visit: www.forwardtohealth.com/dr-mazen