Knowing Allah should shape how we eat
“There is a connection between what we eat and what we feel.”
True knowledge of Allah, as modeled by Ibrahim's question 'What do you worship?', means recognizing Him alone as Creator, Guide, Provider, Healer, and Giver of life and death, and this tawhid should shape how believers care for the bodies He gave them through prophetic guidance on food, moderation, and natural remedies.
The khutbah in 8 steps
- Opening khutbah formula and recitation of Ibrahim's dialogue with his father and people ('What do you worship?')
- Ibrahim's rejection of idols and the meaning of la ilaha illa Allah, negation of false gods, then affirmation of the Lord of the worlds
- Defining who Allah is through Ibrahim's words: He creates, guides, feeds, heals, and gives death and life, and the need to teach children this reasoning
- Tawhid frees a person from attachment to created things that can neither harm nor benefit; Allah alone controls all causes
- Second half: the Quran's link between food, drink, illness, and healing, honey as a cure (the hadith of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, 'give him honey to drink')
- Black seed as a cure for every disease except death, and talbina (barley broth) as comfort for the sick heart and remover of grief
- Moderation in eating: the stomach is a vessel not a garbage bin, one third food, one third drink, one third breath
- Warning against corrupted modern food, excess, and blind imitation of other nations even in diet (the lizard-hole hadith); closing dua
In the khateeb's words
“that white matter and the brain that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala blessed them with.”
“this hadith actually shows us that there is a connection between what we eat and what we feel”
For the dinner table
Today's khutbah was about knowing Allah through the story of Prophet Ibrahim, who began by asking his people a simple but deep question: what do you worship? The khateeb explained that Ibrahim described Allah as the One who created him, guides him, feeds him, heals him when he is sick, and gives him life and death, and this is the difference between worshipping the true Lord and worshipping things that can neither help nor harm. He reminded us that idols are not just stones; money, desires, and blindly copying others can become idols too. The khutbah then turned to food and health: Allah placed healing in His creation, like honey, black seed, and Talbina (barley broth), but true healing is only by His permission. The khateeb warned that overeating and blindly imitating others in diet make us sick, and taught that the stomach is a vessel, not a garbage bin, a third for food, a third for drink, a third for breath. The big takeaway: know Allah as your Creator, Provider, and Healer, and take care of the body He entrusted to you.
- Ibrahim asked his people 'What do you worship?', if someone watched your week, what would they say you love most?
- The Prophet said the stomach is a vessel, not a garbage bin, what's one eating habit you could change this week?
- The khateeb said what we eat can affect how we feel, have you ever noticed a food that changes your mood?
The masjid
More on Health & wellbeing
If a brother comes to us and admits that they have a gambling problem, do not look down upon them or cast them out.31:21Brand Lane Islamic Center · Stafford, TX · Jul 18, 2026Gambling apps can destroy Muslim families
Seeking a therapist, a psychiatrist, a counselor, or a crisis service doesn't contradict tawakkul.4:19Masjid Subhan · Scarborough, ON · Oct 3, 2026Protect life with hope and support
IAGD · Rochester Hills, MI · Sep 11, 2026Protect the mind from addiction“It's a gift from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and we are also told not only to use that gift but also to protect that gift.”