Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (12/356)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

(Continuation) On the etiquettes of eating and drinking, from al-Rawḍ al-Murbiʿ

We must recognize Allah’s blessing upon us in food and drink: how He has made them accessible and easy, until they reach us. Allah the Exalted alluded to these blessings in Surat al-Wāqiʿah. After mentioning the substance from which man was created and the things by which he is sustained, He says:

“Have you considered what you sow? Is it you who cause it to grow, or are We the One who causes it to grow?” [al-Wāqiʿah]

The answer is: Rather, it is You, our Lord.

“Were We to will, We could reduce it to chaff, and you would be left wondering.” [al-Wāqiʿah]

That is, were He to will, the crop would sprout, grow, and reach maturity, and then Allah would turn it into chaff by sending upon it storms or destructive calamities. This would be more grievous than if it had not grown at all. In other words, Allah did not say, “Were We to will, it would not grow”; rather, He said, “We could reduce it to chaff.” This is more severe, because one’s attachment to it after it has grown and matured is greater than one’s attachment to it when it is still seed:

“Indeed, we are ruined! Rather, we are deprived! Have you considered the water that you drink?”

Food cannot exist without water:

“Is it you who send it down from the clouds, or are We the One who sends it down?”

The answer is: Rather, it is You, our Lord.

“Were We to will, We could make it bitter.” [al-Wāqiʿah: 70]

He did not say, “Were We to will, We would not send it down from the clouds,” because having water before you while being unable to drink it because it is bitter is more distressing.

“Then why are you not grateful?”

“Have you considered the fire that you kindle?”—with which food is cooked—“Is it you who produced its tree, or are We the One who produced it?” [al-Wāqiʿah]

The answer is: Rather, it is You, our Lord.

Reflect upon these blessings before reflecting upon Allah’s blessing upon you in food and drink. Then reflect upon Allah’s blessing upon you in being able to swallow food easily, in finding pleasure in its taste, in its settling comfortably in the stomach, and in its excretion. These are immense blessings. Are there not people who are unable to swallow a morsel or a date? Indeed there are. So praise Allah.

((تتمة)) في آداب الأكل والشرب من الروض المربع يجب علينا أن نعلم نعمة الله ﷿ علينا بالأكل والشرب في تيسيره وتسهيله، حتى وصل إلينا، وقد أشار الله ـ تعالى ـ إلى هذه النعم في سورة الواقعة، فقال ﷿ بعد أن ذكر المادة التي خُلِق منها الإنسان، وذكر المواد التي يقوم بها الإنسان: ﴿أَفَرَأَيْتُمْ مَا تَحْرُثُونَ *أَأَنْتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الزَّارِعُونَ *﴾ [الواقعة] الجواب: بل أنت يا ربنا، ﴿لَوْ نَشَاءُ لَجَعَلْنَاهُ حُطَامًا فَظَلْتُمْ تَفَكَّهُونَ *﴾ [الواقعة] أي لو نشاء لنبت الزرع ونما واستتم، ثم جعله الله حطاماً، بما يُرسَل عليه من العواصف، أو القواصف، وهذا أشد في الحسرة، من كونه لا ينبت، يعني أن الله لم يقل: لو نشاء لم ينبت، بل قال: ﴿لَجَعَلْنَاهُ حُطَامًا﴾ وهذا أشد؛ لأن تعلق النفس به بعد أن نما واستتم أشد من تعلقها به وهو بذر ﴿إِنَّا لَمُغْرَمُونَ *بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ *أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ الْمَاءَ الَّذِي تَشْرَبُونَ *﴾ والطعام لا يكون إلا بماء ﴿أَأَنْتُمْ أَنْزَلْتُمُوهُ مِنَ الْمُزْنِ أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنْزِلُونَ *﴾ الجواب: بل أنت يا ربنا ﴿لَوْ نَشَاءُ جَعَلْنَاهُ أُجَاجًا﴾ [الواقعة: ٧٠] ولم يقل: لو نشاء لم ننزله من المزن؛ لأن كون الماء بين يديك، ولكن لا تستطيع أن تشربه لكونه أجاجاً أشد حسرة ﴿فَلَوْلَا تَشْكُرُونَ﴾ ﴿أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ النَّارَ الَّتِي تُورُونَ *﴾ ويصلح بها الطعام ﴿أَأَنْتُمْ أَنْشَأْتُمْ شَجَرَتَهَا أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنْشِؤُونَ *﴾ [الواقعة] الجواب: بل أنت يا ربنا. اذكر هذه النعم، قبل أن تذكر نعمة الله عليك بالأكل والشرب، ثم اذكر نعمة الله عليك بأنك تسيغ الأكل، ويسهل عليك، وتتلذذ به مذاقاً، وتتلذذ به مقراً في المعدة، وتتلذذ به إخراجاً، نعمٌ عظيمة، ألم يكن في الناس من لا يستطيع أن يسيغ اللقمة أو التمرة؟ بلى، فاحمد الله.