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Fatwa CenterHe Eats Five to Six Meals Everyday
Question
Is there any limit in eating meals in islam? I eat 5 to 6 small meals everyday. I also make sure that I'm not extravagant in these meals. As Allah mentioned he doesn't like those who are extravagant. Is there any number of meals prescribed in Islam?. Can i eat meals when i wish but without being extravagant.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
As far as we know, there is nothing in the Sharee’ah that stipulates a specific number of times of eating or having meals per day.
The Sharee’ah stipulated the prohibition of extravagance in eating as in the Saying of Allah (which means): {… and eat and drink, but be not excessive.} [Quran 7:31]
The Sharee’ah also dispraised eating one’s fill and encouraged eating less and not exceeding a third of the stomach, as in the Hadeeth: "A man does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat enough to keep him alive. But if he must do that, then one-third for his food, one-third for his drink and one-third for his breathing.” [At-Tirmithi and others]
The jurists have mentioned the levels of eating and drinking. It may be useful to mention to you their statements about this. The Fiqh Encyclopedia reads:
“Part of the etiquette of eating is moderation in eating and not filling the stomach. The most that a Muslim is permitted to do in this regard is to divide his stomach into three thirds: one-third for food, one-third for drink, and one-third for air (breathing). This is due to the Hadeeth: "A man does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat enough to keep him alive. But if he must do that, then one-third for his food, one-third for his drink, and one-third for his breathing.” This keeps the body healthy and light, because eating one’s fill makes the body heavy, which leads to laziness in worship and work… This applies to one who is not weakened by not eating his fill; otherwise, it is better for him to use whatever would make him active in performing acts of worship and keep his body upright [i.e. fit and healthy].” [End of quote]
Allah knows best.
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