the channels of the blood vessels differ from one limb to another. Each limb has its own particular channels. That is, the channels in your right hand are not the same as those in your left hand; rather, they differ.

The same applies to the legs: they differ as well. All of this is meant to demonstrate the immense power of Allah, Mighty and Majestic is He.

There is no doubt that this is required by wisdom. Had there not been a wisdom requiring this hand to have particular channels and that hand to have its own specific channels, Allah would not have created them in this manner.

The point of all this is to show that Allah has bestowed upon us material, physical blessings in this food, both before it reaches us and afterward.

Then there are religious blessings that precede and follow this food: you mention Allah’s Name when eating, and you praise Him when you finish. For Allah is pleased with His servant when he eats a morsel and praises Him for it, or drinks a draught and praises Him for it. Allah’s pleasure is the ultimate goal of every person. Who, then, attains Allah’s pleasure? We enjoy His blessings, and when we praise Him for them, He is pleased with us—though He is the One who bestowed them in the first place.

This blessing—namely, Allah’s pleasure—is greater than the blessing of physical well-being.

What do you think would be the case if Allah had not legislated for us to praise Him when eating and drinking? If we were then to praise Him, we would become innovators and sinners. Yet He legislated this for us in order to bring us to His pleasure. I ask Allah to grant this to all of us.

This, then, is a tremendous blessing which a person realizes only through reflection.