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Fatwa CenterFears overeating and obesity for blind, inactive son
Question
My son is blind and a bit less than his brothers in terms of thinking and handling general issues. I could not find him a job thus he is always at home. He spends his time between playing play station games (special ones) and watching TV news and good programs. The problem is that, because he does not work and almost does nothing, he is getting fat. Therefore, I started him on a diet program he doesn't like. Although I explained to him the purpose of the diet program which is to keep him in good shape and preserve his heart and other members of his body in good health, especially if later, after his mother and I die, he most probably will be alone with his brothers (2 boys). I know that he likes food very much. My Question is: If I let him eat what he wants he will become fatter. I am afraid that will greatly affect his body and life and it will be my fault (will it?) Will God punish me for that? Should I keep him under the diet program to keep him on the same weight? He does not like that at all and I am afraid that this situation will affect his behaviour towards me and even his way of thinking.
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
Imam Ahmad and Tirmizi reported from Al Miqdad Ibn Maade Karib that he said: "I heard the Prophet saying: "Nobody has filled any receptacle worse than his own stomach. Indeed, it is enough for the person to eat that which is needed to strengthen his body. But if the person wants desperately to add to that then he fills a third (of his stomach) with food a third with drink and leaves out a third for his breathe".
Ibn Rajab said: 'This Hadith is a basic in the fundamentals of medicine". Ibn Massawaihi (a doctor) said: "If people applied the meaning of this Hadith in their lives, they would escape many illnesses and diseases and many pharmacies and shops would be cancelled'. He said that because the origin of most diseases is overeating. The doctor Al Harith Ibn Kildah said: 'The diet is the origin of health and the greediness of overeating is the origin of illnesses'.
So, there is no harm of making a diet for this blind boy. But take care of the following:
1. Do not tighten this program too much.
2. Follow a step by step progression in applying it.
3. Try to convince him of the usefulness of this program as far as health and intellect are concerned.
4. If you notice that this program has a bad effect on his behaviour or his thinking then it is better to give it up.
Allah knows best.
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