Gluttony
Excessive consumption of food and drink beyond need.
Gluttony (Sharah)
Gluttony is the excessive consumption of food and drink beyond need. It is not about enjoying a good meal — it is the habitual overindulgence that dulls the heart, weighs down the body, and distances you from worship.
Definition
Sharah is a specific form of excess — consuming more than the body needs out of habit, boredom, or lack of self-control. It is not the same as broad uncontrolled desires (shahawat). It specifically concerns the stomach, and the scholars of tazkiyah considered it the gateway to many other spiritual diseases.
Signs of Gluttony
- Eating until overly full as a regular habit
- Eating out of boredom, stress, or emotion rather than hunger
- Feeling sluggish and unable to worship after meals
- Inability to fast or finding fasting unbearable
- Food being a primary source of comfort and entertainment
- Wasting food regularly
Islamic Perspective
The Prophet ﷺ said: "The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat a few mouthfuls to keep him going. If he must eat more, then a third for his food, a third for his drink, and a third for air." (Tirmidhi)
Allah says: "Eat and drink, but do not be excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who are excessive." (Al-A'raf 7:31)
Treatment
- Follow the Sunnah of thirds: One third food, one third water, one third air
- Eat with intention: Begin with Bismillah, eat mindfully, end with Alhamdulillah
- Fast regularly: Monday, Thursday, and the white days — fasting retrains the appetite
- Eat less before worship: A light stomach makes for better prayer and reflection
- Avoid eating out of boredom: Ask yourself — am I hungry, or am I just restless?
- Share your food: The Prophet ﷺ said food for one is enough for two, and food for two is enough for four