Whoever controls his belly controls all good deeds

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Hunger of the Salaf

It is reported from Ibn Sîrîn – Allâh have mercy on him – that a man
once said to Ibn 'Umar – Allâh be pleased with him:

Can we offer you some Jawârish? He inquired, "And what is Jawârish?"
The man replied, "It is something that will help you digest your food
if you get too full up." Ibn 'Umar said, "I have not eaten my fill for
four months – not because I cannot find food, but because I have lived
with people who used to eat their fill at times and go hungry at
others.

Abû Dâwûd, Al-Zuhd article 325.

It is reported that Al-Hasan Al-Basrî – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

By He in whose Hand is my soul, I have lived amongst people who never
ordered food to be prepared for themselves If [food] was presented to
one of them, he would eat, otherwise, he would be silent; and he would
not care if it was hot or cold.

Abû Nu'aym, Hilyatu Al-Awliyâ` 6:270.

It is also reported that he said:

By Allâh, I have lived amongst people who when taking lunch, if they
were about to be full, would stop eating.

Ibid.

It is reported that Al-Fudayl b. 'Ayyâd – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

Two things harden the heart, too much talking and too much food.

Ibn Hibbân Al-Bustî, Rawdatu Al-'Uqalâ` p45, Matba'ah Al-Sunnah
Al-Muhammadîyah 1949.

It is reported that Mâlik b. Dînâr – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

It is unfitting for a believer that his belly becomes his greatest
concern, or that his desires dominate him.

Ibn Abî Al-Dunyâ, Al-Jû' (The Book of Hunger) article 105.

It is also reported that he said:

Whoever controls his belly controls all good deeds.

Ibid. article 99.

It is reported that the Tâbi'î (Successor) 'Uqbah b. Wassâj – Allâh
have mercy on him – was once at a wedding reception where many kinds
of dishes were offered and people started trying one dish after
another. He started to cry, and said:

"I found the first part of this Ummah fearing all this upon
themselves." And he ate only from one dish.

Ibid. article 261.

It is reported that Muhammad b. Sîrîn – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

A man from the companions of the Prophet – praise and peace of Allâh
be upon him – would sometimes go three days without finding anything
to eat, so he would grill some animal skin and eat that. If he
couldn't find anything at all, he would [tie] a rock to himself to
straighten his back.

Ibid. article 61.