Eating in Seven Intestines

Narrated Nafi: Ibn Umar never used to take his meal unless a poor man was called to eat with him. One day I brought a poor man to eat with him. The man ate way too much, whereupon Ibn Umar said, "O Nafi! Don't let this man enter my house, for I heard the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) saying, 'A believer eats in one intestine (is satisfied with a little food), and a kafir (disbeliever) eats in seven intestines (eats much food)." [Sahih Bukhari]

In other ahadith hypocrites are mentioned, along with Kuffar, as eating in seven intestines. The reality of the matter is that hypocrites are also Kuffar. The difference is that hypocrites pretend to be Muslims and only Allah knows their reality, while the reality of those who openly disbelieve (Kuffar) is known to all.

We can note from this hadith that the illustrious Sahabah did not even like hypocrites to enter their homes, so distasteful was their hypocrisy to the pious and so distant did they want to stay from the evil of hypocrisy.

It also makes sense, when we learn of such ahadith, why Muslim parents tell their children not to eat too much at others homes and avoid doing so themselves too.



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