Islamic Diet & Manners : Imtiaz Khondokar
"In the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate". .................
Muslims have contributed much to the nutritional
practices of the world’s many cultures. The Muslim’s nutritional practices are
expected to be determined by the injunctions and regulations of Islam, as
outlined in the Qur’an and explained by the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH). There are more than 1.2 billion Muslims of different nationalities,
societies, and geographical backgrounds. The unique food habits and nutritional
practices of the Muslims are discussed in this article.
Cleanliness and Hygiene
Cleanliness
and hygiene in Islam are emphasized to the extent Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is
reported by Ibn Hayyan to have said: "Cleanse yourself, for Islam is
cleanliness." In another Hadith the Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have
said, "Cleanliness invites towards faith, and faith leads its possessor to
the Garden."
Cleanliness
in food handling, cooking, preserving, processing, etc. is highly recommended
and emphasized besides an overall cleanliness of body, clothing, home, and
surroundings.
Miswak
Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) laid special emphasis on cleaning the teeth, hands, and hair.
He (PBUH) was particularly careful in the observance of Miswak (brushing
teeth). Miswak is an Arabic word meaning tooth cleaner. It is made of wood and
the Prophet (PBUH) recommended its use with every ablution (washing for prayer)
five times a day and before and after every meal. How our modern day dentists
would applaud that advanced view.
Eating Habits
Eating
like all other acts of a Muslim is a matter of worship and begins in the name
of Allah. Bismallah. Islam reminds Muslims that food and drink are the
provision of Allah for survival and for maintaining good health. The following
seven habits were recommended by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and are practiced by
Muslims all over the world:
1)
Du'a' (Supplication) before each meal:
"Bismillah
wa ala barkatillah."
"In the name of Allah and with the blessings of Allah."
"In the name of Allah and with the blessings of Allah."
2)
Du'a' (Supplication) after each meal:
"Al
hamdu lil lazi at ta mana wa saqana waja-alana minal muslemeen."
"Praise be to Allah the One Who gave us the food and the drinks. Praise be to Him Who made us Muslim."
"Praise be to Allah the One Who gave us the food and the drinks. Praise be to Him Who made us Muslim."
3)
Eating less:
Overeating
is discouraged and wasting of food is condemned.
"O
children of Adam! Look to your adornment at every place of worship, and eat and
drink, but be not prodigals. Lo! He loveth not the prodigals." (Quran
7:31)
(Editors note: Prodigal means wasteful or unnecessarily extravagant.)
(Editors note: Prodigal means wasteful or unnecessarily extravagant.)
4)
Dieting:
One
of the main principals of good health is a balanced diet. Prophet Mohammed
(PBUH) emphasized the behavior of eating less as a method of preventing
sickness and diseases. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is reported to have said:
"Eat
less you will be healthier." (Hadith)
"Nothing
is worse than a person who fills his stomach. It should be enough for the son
of Adam to have a few bites to satisfy his hunger. If he wishes more, it should
be: one-third for his food, one-third for his liquids, and one-third for his
breath." (Tarmazi, ibn Majah and Hakim)
5)
Eating slowly:
Eating
slowly is recommended for good health as it facilitates the food being
thoroughly chewed and hence easier to digest.
6)
Moderation and sharing:
Fourteen
centuries ago, Islam laid down the basis of dietary regulations as well as the
limits within which man can satisfy his physical needs and desires without
endangering his life and mental health. Islam motivated people to seek the good
of the Hereafter as well as of this world in a balanced way. It taught us to
enjoy the pleasures of life, including food, in a moderate way, not becoming a
slave to his desires or losing sight of the ultimate spiritual goal. Prophet
Mohammed (pbuh) did not permit Muslims to undertake fast which might be harmful
and lead to weakness or illness, even though fasting is considered and act of
worship.
'Abdullah
ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As told of God's messenger, "Have you not been informed,
'Abdullah, that you fast during the day and get up at night for prayer?"
When he replied that this was so, he said to him, "Do not do it. Fast and
break your fast, get up for prayer and sleep, for you have a duty to your body,
your eye, your wife, and your visitors. May he who observes a perpetual fast
never fast! Fasting three days a month is equivalent to a perpetual fast. Fast
three days every month and recite Qur'an every month."
A
Muslim is advised to avoid extremes and to choose a moderate course in all his
affairs, including his eating habits. "Eat of the good things we have
provided for your sustenance, but commit not excess therein." (Qur'an
20:81)
We
are also encouraged to enjoy life within certain limits which are drawn from
the Shari'ah which was built on the Islamic 'Golden Rule', "Do not harm or
be a cause of harm", whether for oneself or others. We are cautioned to
avoid greed and to enjoy the pleasures of sharing, especially in regard to
eating.
7)
Eating together:
The
benefits of enjoying meals together applies whether it's a family sitting down
together, a husband and wife dining out, or a young couple getting to know one
another. The Prophet (pbuh) emphasized the importance of this when he said,
"Eat together and not separately, for the blessing is associated with the
company." (Ibn Majah)
Drinking Habits
It
is recommended not to drain a glass of liquid in one continuous draught. The
pharynx serves as a common passageway for both food and air, and the pathways
for these cross. Intervals while drinking are also recommended to avoid
choking. Sitting down while drinking is also recommended.
The
Holy Prophet said, "Do not drink water in one gulp (or one breath) like a
camel, but take it in two or three installments (with breaks for breath). Take
the name of Allah (recite "Bismallah") when you start drinking and
praise Him (say "Alhamdullillah") when you finish. (Tirmizi)
We Should Follow………………
The Prophet
Mohammed (pbuh) is reported to have said, "A plate for
one is enough for two, and a plate for two is enough for four.
It is reported that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) has said that one who
serves drinks should himself be the last person to drink. (Tirmizi)
It is also
said that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) never found fault with any food; if he had
the inclination, he would eat it, and if he disliked it, he would leave it.
"If a person takes the name of Allah (i.e., recites Bismillah
or Assalamu Alaikum) when he enters his home and when he eats, Satan tells his
companions, "Let us go. There is no room for you to pass the night in this
house nor food." If he enters his house without calling to Allah, Satan
says to his companions: "You have at least secured lodging." Then if
he does not remember Allah at the time of eating also, Satan says, "You
have secured both lodging and food." (Muslim)
