On average, we think about our bodies 8 times a day and on any given day, 45% of women are on a diet and what’s worse, 40% would trade 3 to 5 years of their lives to achieve weight loss goals. “…a man should say to his soul every morning, “God has given thee twenty-four treasures; take heed lest thou lose anyone of them, for thou wilt not be able to endure the regret that will follow such loss.” Al-Ghazali, The Alchemy Of Happiness
Dear Readers,
When I am challenged by the Demon of Eating Disorder, or when I think Recovery is hard, I read some of these posts from my Face Book Page. These are just a combo of Eating Disorder facts, lit, Islamic philosophy, poetry, mystic sayings, Sufi quotes and verses from the Qur’an.
Eating Disorder Recovery/Inspiration Islamic Healing
Why free your mind and heart of ED thoughts?
Do you want angels to live in your heart? But how can angels enter your heart, when the demon of Eating Disorder is already residing there? “And the heart is also a home. It is the home of the Angels, where they descend, where they reside. Despicable characteristics, such as anger, desires, belittlement, envy, arrogance, self-amazement, etc. are all barking dogs. So, how can the Angels enter such a place while it is crawling with dogs?” – Imam Ghazali
A Man was not created to develop unhealthy obsessions with food, weight and body. “Know, O beloved, that man was not created in jest or at random, but marvellously made and for some great end. Although he is not form everlasting, yet he lives for ever; and though his body is mean and earthly, yet his spirit is lofty and divine” ―Imam Ghazali
On average, we think about our bodies 8 times a day and on any given day, 45% of women are on a diet and what’s worse, 40% would trade 3 to 5 years of their lives to achieve weight loss goals. “…a man should say to his soul every morning, “God has given thee twenty-four treasures; take heed lest thou lose anyone of them, for thou wilt not be able to endure the regret that will follow such loss.” Al-Ghazali, The Alchemy Of Happiness
The three day thirst and hunger of Imam Husayn (ra) and his faithful gives us a lesson that all Eating Disorder behaviours are contrary to Allah’s way. Anorexia self starvation behaviour reminds us that no human being can survive without food and water. Bulimia though temporarily soothes ill feelings is abuse of food and body. Binge Eating leads to wastage of food. Karbala is a lesson in itself. Get Help-
Humanity has been provided with many lessons to learn from the events at Karbala- One of the lessons from Karbala is on food and water- The Karbala teaches us not to take such blessings for granted. Water, food, health are a great blessings of Allah. Give thanks to Allah for His blessings and seek treatment for your Eating Disorder- whether its anorexia, bulimia or Binge Eating Disorder.
The word of God is the Medicine of the Heart. Imam Ali (ra)
If you are struggling to choose recovery, finding your “key to life” can help you stay firm in your resolve to recover no matter what obstacles seem to stand in your way. If your aim in life is seeking nearness to Allah Almighty then don’t forget this cannot be achieved through Eating Disorder behaviours. You need to free yourself from the slavery of your Eating Disorder.
Road to recovery requires Patience
Patience does not mean to passively endure. It means to be far sighted enough to trust the end result of a process. What does patience mean? It means to look at the thorn and see a rose, to look at the night and see the dawn. Impatience means to be short-sighted as to not be able to see the outcome. The lovers of God never run out of patience, for they know that time is needed for the crescent moon to become full. Elif Shafak Forty
Rules Of Love
Eating Disorder is one disease that can only be beaten through effort, hard work and treatment- Don’t sit around with your disorder and expect a miracle, you are just leading yourself towards destruction- Tawakkul in reality does not deny actually working and striving for provision, for Allah Almighty has decreed that we should work and it is from His ways that he gives people when they strive. In fact, Allah Almighty ordered us to both depend upon Him and to work, to take the necessary steps needed to achieve our goals, and so the act of striving for our sustenance is an act of physical worship while trusting and depending upon Allah is faith in Him.
Put a Stop to ED thoughts- If the first inward thought is not warded off, it will generate a desire, then the desire will generate a wish, and the wish will generate an intention, and the intention will generate the action, and the action will result in ruin and divine wrath. So evil must be cut off at its root, which is when it is simply a thought that crosses the mind, from which all the other things follow on– Imam Ghazali
Struggling with Eating Disorder? Just remember: “Your Lord has not forsaken you, nor has He become displeased. And surely what comes after is better for you than that which has gone before. And soon will your Lord give you so that you shall be well pleased.” [Qur’an 93:3-5]
Eating Disorders can be beaten. If we have faith, we believe in Allah, and when we believe in Allah, we know that everything is from Him. The tribulations won’t and don’t go away, but we deal with them in a different way because of this faith and belief in Allah. We cope with the tribulation better because we have chosen to believe in His reassurances and promises to us: “Allah does not impose upon any soul a duty but to the extent of its ability” [Qur’an 2:286]
As someone who is recovering from an eating disorder, it may be exhausting looking for the finish line, wondering when your battle with this vicious disease might finally come to an end. Though everyone’s recovery journey may look different, there is hope in the process of recovery. Recovery from an eating disorder is indeed a journey and not a destination. Each day you commit to your recovery and fight your eating disorder, you are lessening the stronghold it has over you and empowering yourself to truly find freedom and lasting happiness.
