Hadith against being fat

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind

Short Answer

Yes, the Prophet ﷺ did speak against being fat. However, the narrations of Hadith against being fat are condemning those who are excessive in eating and seeking worldly pleasure. The censure is not applicable to those who are moderate in their behaviour but are still large.

Explanation

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: خَيْرُكُمْ قَرْنِي، ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ، ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ. – قَالَ عِمْرَانُ: لاَ أَدْرِي أَذَكَرَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بَعْدُ قَرْنَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثَةً – قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: إِنَّ بَعْدَكُمْ قَوْمًا يَخُونُونَ وَلاَ يُؤْتَمَنُونَ، وَيَشْهَدُونَ وَلاَ يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ، وَيَنْذِرُونَ وَلاَ يَفُونَ، وَيَظْهَرُ فِيهِمُ السِّمَنُ.

The Prophet ﷺ said: The best of you are my generation. Then those who come after them. And then those who come after them. Imran said: I do not know whether the Prophet ﷺ mentioned two or three generations. The Prophet ﷺ continued: There will be people after you who will be dishonest and not trustworthy. They will give testimony without being asked. They will vow but not fulfil their vows. And obesity will appear upon them. (Sahih al-Bukhari, 2651).

In the Sahih Hadith above, the blessed Prophet ﷺ is speaking about people becoming corrupt. Amongst the negative descriptions of these people is that they will be obese. Therefore, it is correct to say that this narration is a Hadith against being fat. Although it is not addressing it exclusively.

In the narration of Imam al-Tirmidhi (2221) the wording is more detailed. In it the Prophet ﷺ said: ((قَوْمٌ يَتَسَمَّنُونَ وَيُحِبُّونَ السِّمَنَ A people who seek obesity and love corpulence. Therefore, failing to be moderate and turning to excessiveness is clearly rebuked by the blessed Prophet. Undoubtedly, this is not applicable to those people who eat in moderation but are still heavy.

Commentary

وَهَذَا ذَمٌّ. وَسَبَبُ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ السِّمَنَ الْمُكْتَسَبَ إِنَّمَا هُوَ مِنْ كَثْرَةِ الْأَكْلِ وَالشَّرَهِ. (الجامع لأحكام القرآن)

This is condemnation. The reason for it is that obesity is gained from excessive eating and gluttony. (Imam Abu Abdillah al-Qurtubi 671H, Tafseer al-Qurtubi).

In the Nass (text) above, Imam al-Qurtubi clarifies that this narration is a Hadith against being fat. He explains that this is due to excessiveness in eating. Such a move away from moderation is unquestionably contrary to the teaching of the Quran and Sunnah.

Another Hadith

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: إِنَّهُ لَيَأْتِي الرَّجُلُ العَظِيمُ السَّمِينُ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ، لاَ يَزِنُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ جَنَاحَ بَعُوضَةٍ، وَقَالَ: اقْرَءُوا، {فَلاَ نُقِيمُ لَهُمْ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ وَزْنًا} [الكهف: 105]

Abu Hurairah (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: On the Day of Resurrection, a colossal obese man will come. He will not weigh, the weight of the wing of a mosquito with Allah (Most High). Then He ﷺ added, read: We shall not give them any weight on the Day of Resurrection. (Surah al-Kahf, 105). (Sahih al-Bukhari, 4729).

Once again the Hadith presented is not primarily addressing the issue of overeating or obesity. However, great Imams of Hadith have commented on it being a Hadith against being fat. This is very common in Quran and Sunnah. A verse or Hadith may be addressing a particular issue, but other important matters are raised within it too.

وفي هذا الحديث أن السمن ليس مما يمدح به الرجل؛ لأنه من ممادح النسوان. (الإفصاح عن معاني الصحاح)

In this Hadith we find that fat is not something a man is praised for. Rather it is one of the praiseworthy descriptions for women. (Imam Ibn Hubayrah 560H, al-Ifsaah).

ويُفهم من هذا الحديث أن السمن المكتسب للرجال مذموم. (المفهم لما أشكل من تلخيص كتاب مسلم)

It is understood from this Hadith that acquired fat is reprehensible for men. (Imam Abu al-Abbas al-Qurtubi 656H, Sharh Sahih Muslim).

 

Issue for men

It is clear from the commentaries above, that being overweight is more blameworthy in men than it is amongst women. That is not to say that women are not required to take care of themselves or their health, but men are more emphatically required to avoid obesity.

 

Nature v excessiveness

It is incredibly important to explain that Islam does not condemn a person for a having a particular shape or body type. Rather the condemnation is regarding being excessive. Thus, a person who eats in moderation and exercises in moderation, is not to blame for being larger than other people.

Islam is the religion of balance and moderation. Thus, we do not put pressure on people to look a certain way. And we condemn the idea of going to extremes to attain a certain physique. Rather we encourage people to eat and exercise in moderation to take care of one’s body and health. Which are immense blessings of Allah (Most High).

مَعْنَاهُ: أَنهم يحبونَ التَّوَسُّع فِي المآكل والمشارب، وَهِي أَسبَاب السّمن. وَقَالَ ابْن التِّين: المُرَاد ذمّ محبته وتعاطيه لَا مَن يخلق كَذَلِك. (عمدة القاري شرح صحيح البخاري)

Meaning, they prefer excess in food and drink, which are the causes of obesity. Ibn al-Tin said: The meaning of the censure is love for it (obesity) and preferring it, not the one who is created like that (large). (Imam Badr al-Deen al-Ayni 855H, Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari).

وليس الخلقي منهم مذموماً بل المكتسب له بالتوسع في المأكل والمشرب. (دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين)

The natural state is not reprehensible. Rather that which is acquired through excessive  consumption of food and drink. (Imam Ibn Ilan 1057H, Sharh Riyadh al-Saliheen).

وقالوا: المذموم منه ما يستكسبه، وأمّا الخلقي فلا. (اللامع الصبيح بشرح الجامع الصحيح)

They said: What is reprehensible is that which he acquires. As for that which is natural, then no (it is not reprehensible). (Imam al-Birmawi 831H, al-Lami al-Sabeeh).

In the Nusoos (texts) above there is a clear recognition that some people are naturally larger than others. And there is no blame on such people. The Hadith against being fat are applicable to people who are excessive and turn away from moderation and justice.

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

–Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (20.12.24)