Interpretation of the Hadeeth that non-Muslims eat in seven intestines

22-11-2014 | IslamWeb

Question:

Salaam Alaikum. I have a question regarding fatwa 200433. In it, it is stated that An Nawawi gathered interpretation of the hadith about non-Muslims having 7 intestines, and that the preponderant opinion was that they have 7 intestines, but they are different from those of Muslims. Scholars also told him that the hadith means that it is good to avoid eat less than more. Here are my questions: Whose "preponderate view" was it that non-Muslims have 7 intestines? Was it the view of scholars or of laity? Who did An-Nawawi speak to in order to get an understanding of this hadith? Thanks. Referenced from the fatwa: An-Nawawi may Allaah have mercy upon him pointed out, in his explanation of Saheeh Muslim, some of the interpretations given to that Hadeeth and then said: "The preponderant opinion is that it means that some believers eat in one intestine and that most of the non-believers eat in seven intestines. This does not necessitate that every intestine of the seven is like that of the believer. The scholars said: 'What the Hadeeth means is to be content with little in this world and encouraging asceticism and contentment, in addition to the fact that eating little is a good characteristic, and eating a great deal is the opposite.'" [End quote] https://www.islamweb.net/en/fatwa/200433

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

With regard to your question, "Who did An-Nawawi speak to in order to get an understanding of this Hadeeth?", we did not understand what you mean exactly, as we do not say that An-Nawawi spoke to people to arrive at this understanding. Moreover, the fact that An-Nawawi had preferred this opinion is proof enough that it is not a saying of laymen but rather a statement of the scholars. This statement chosen by An-Nawawi was also mentioned by many Hadeeth commentators in their books, like Ibn Hajar in Fat'h al-Baari, as he clarified that Ibn ‘Umar was among those who interpreted this Hadeeth according to its literal meaning.

However, most statements of the scholars on the explanation of this Hadeeth are that its meaning is not according to its literal meaning, and they said that the number is not intended here. They argued that some Muslims may eat too much, as a custom or for any reason, like an internal sickness and the like, and some non-Muslims may eat little either in order to be healthy according to the doctors' orders, or in order to accustom oneself to eating little as may be done by monks or for another reason like having a weak stomach.

They concluded from this that the intent of the Hadeeth is to devalue this worldly life and encourage asceticism and contentment. Eating little is a good quality in a person while eating too much is a bad quality.

Allaah Knows best.