Sayyid Al-Hakeem: Humans' inclination towards eating and drinking is innate, a part of divine reward and punishment

In his second Ramadan lecture on 14/3/2024, Sayyid Ammar Al-Hakeem, Head of Al-Hikma National Movement, continued his discussion on the right of the stomach, which embodies the eighth right in the Message of Rights of our master and leader, Zain Al-Abidin Ali ibn Al-Hussein (peace be upon him). This encapsulates the social theory of the rights system in Islam. After defining the linguistic meaning of the stomach and its components, he shed light on the Quranic insights regarding this right, discussing the first and second categories of Quranic verses related to attitudes towards food and drink, emphasizing them as blessings from Allah for sustenance.
His Eminence stated, "The third category: This category of Quranic verses condemns those who forbid certain foods and drinks due to ignorant ideas or myths and falsehoods, such as verse 32 of Surah Al-A'raf: “Ask, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Who has forbidden the adornments and lawful provisions Allah has brought forth for His servants?” Say, “They are for the enjoyment of the believers in this worldly life, but they will be exclusively theirs on the Day of Judgment. This is how We make Our revelations clear for people of knowledge.” (07:32 Holy Quran) As for the fourth category, these Quranic verses indicate that the innate inclination of humans towards eating and drinking persists into the Hereafter, as mentioned in Surah Ar-Ra'd, verse 35: “The description of the Paradise promised to the righteous is that under it rivers flow; eternal is its fruit as well as its shade. That is the ˹ultimate˺ outcome for the righteous. But the outcome for the disbelievers is the Fire!” (13:35 Holy Quran ).
H.E. affirmed that the Quranic review of these matters aims to underscore that this world is a temporary abode while the Hereafter is the abode of permanence and eternal settlement. H.E. also pointed out the significant inclination towards food and drink in the Hereafter, indicating it as a reward for them, as stated in Surah Mohammed, verse 15: "The description of the Paradise promised to the righteous is that in it are rivers of fresh water, rivers of milk that never changes in taste, rivers of wine delicious to drink," (47:15 Holy Quran)
Meanwhile, food and drink represent a punishment for the people of the Fire, as they are compelled to consume them due to their extreme hunger and thirst, as mentioned in Surah Al-Waqi'ah: “Then you, O misguided deniers, 51, will certainly eat from ˹the fruit of˺ the trees of Zaqqûm, 52, filling up ˹your˺ bellies with it. 53, Then on top of that you will drink boiling water, 54, and you will drink ˹it˺ like thirsty camels do. 54” (56:51-54 Holy Quran)