Tips for Controlling Lust According to Imam Al-Ghazali: Limiting Eating Time

 

Tips for Controlling Lust According to Imam Al-Ghazali: Limiting Eating Time

For Sufis, lust is one thing to be wary of, because it can plunge a person into negative things. Many methods of spiritual practice ( riyadhah ) they take in order to train themselves to be able to control their lusts.

One of the Sufis who pays attention to the matter of controlling lust is Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (d. 505 H). In his work, Ihya` 'Ulumiddin , Al-Ghazali writes about how to control lust which is quite unique. According to him, to be able to control lust, one begins by conquering the lust of the stomach .

As for the form of riyadhah that can be done in order to conquer the lust of the stomach, in addition to reducing the portion of food, it can also be done by limiting the time to eat within a certain time limit, and this is what will be discussed in this article.

According to Al-Ghazali, there are four levels of limiting the time to eat. The first and highest level, namely by limiting eating only once in three days or more. (Al-Ghazali, Ihya` , Vol . 3, p. 87) He exemplifies the habit of many Sufis who choose to stay hungry for days, some even hold hunger for 30 or 40 days.

However, it should be noted that the practice that exists at the first level cannot be equated with wishal fasting (continuing fasting for days without breaking the fast), because the fast is only devoted to the Prophet SAW and is not followed by his followers.

The purpose of eating once in three days or more here is that they only don't eat or snack that are filling, but still drink to meet their energy needs, and even then only in the most minimal limits. And according to Al-Ghazali , only a few people are able to achieve this first degree.

The second level, which is by limiting eating to only once in two to three days. (Al-Ghazali, Ihya` , Vol. 3, p. 88) According to Al-Ghazali, this level is still within the ability of people in general, unlike the first level where only certain people can achieve it. So, this level is very likely to be done by people in general who are willing to do riyadah seriously.

The third level and the lowest, which is by limiting eating only once a day and one night. According to Al-Ghazali, this is the minimum level for those who want to do riyadah , and if they eat more than once a day, then it has been considered excessive ( israf ).

Al-Ghazali stated that for those who pass this level, it is recommended to consume the daily ration at suhoor time, which is between the time after tahajud prayer and dawn prayer. That way, the person can spend the time hungry during the day by fasting, and spend the time hungry at night with qiyamul lail .

For the fourth level, Al-Ghazali does not provide an explicit explanation. However, it can be assumed that this fourth level is limiting eating twice or more in a day, while this has been considered excessive as explained previously. So it can be understood if Al-Ghazali did not mention it, because for him people who eat twice a day will not feel hungry, and thus riyadah cannot be done at this level. God bless you .