Imam Al-Ghazali Warns That a Too-Full Stomach Undermines the Wisdom of Fasting

During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims are not only required to abstain from food and drink but also to control their desires, including how they break their fast. The renowned scholar Imam Al-Ghazali, in Ihya Ulumuddin, reminds that those who fast should not overeat, for a stomach that is too full can erode the wisdom of fasting and weaken the effort to subdue the lower self. In his work, Imam Al-Ghazali cautions against eating too much at iftar, so that the stomach does not become bloated. For there is no stomach more detested by Allah SWT than one that is overfull, to the point of fullness. How can one take the wisdom of fasting if, at the moment of breaking the fast, one devours food until one is full? After all, the purpose of fasting is to empty the stomach and repair its functioning to control the lower self, and to enhance the quality of piety. If a person fasts with a full stomach from morning to evening, the drive of the lower self will emerge, and he will be governed by greed and gluttony throughout the day. The eminent scholar Abu Hamid Muhammad bin Muhammad bin Muhammad bin Ahmad al-Ghazali also reminds Muslims who fast to maintain the qalbu in order to remain khusyu before Allah SWT, through fear and hope, as well as with patience and prayer.