Moderation in Food and Drink

(A Study in the Qur'an and Sunnah)

Abstract

The research explores the concept of moderation in food and drink in light of the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah. It is based on collecting Qur’anic verses and Prophetic hadiths that emphasize moderation while rejecting the extremes of excess and deficiency. The study also highlights the harmony between religious guidance and modern medical research, which confirms the positive impact of moderation in promoting health and preventing disease. The research is structured into an introduction, a preface, four main sections, and a conclusion. The preface addresses the definition of moderation both linguistically and terminologically and affirms that Islam is the religion of moderation.First section: The Qur’anic perspective on moderation in food and drink. This includes two subtopics: (1) the prohibition of extravagance, and (2) the condemnation of disbelievers for excess in eating and drinking. Second section: The Prophetic perspective on moderation. This includes (1) Prophetic guidance on balanced consumption of food and drink, and (2) prohibition of excessive asceticism.Third section: The importance of maintaining balance in diet and its benefits. This discusses (1) the significance of balance in eating and drinking, and (2) the health and social benefits of moderation.Fourth section: The consequences of deviating from moderation. These covers (1) the harms of extravagance, and (2) the harms of negligence and extreme asceticism.The conclusion summarizes the key findings, the most important of which are: Qur’anic directives and Prophetic traditions strongly encourage moderation in food and drink and prohibit extravagance due to its negative consequences for individuals and society. Furthermore, moderation aligns with modern medical insights, which confirm that both excess and deficiency pose serious risks to human health. Any deviation from moderation, whether through overindulgence or deprivation, leads to significant health, social, and economic harms. The research concludes with indexes of topics, sources, and references, seeking success and guidance from Almighty God.