To eat, like a Slave

Akbar came home and greeted his family after a long day at work. He was tired and anxious to eat, eat a slow cooked fattening meal, preferably a roasted chicken with many sides to accompany. Akbar was working long hours and had little time for anyone including himself. One activity that made him immensely happy was consuming food; he loved to eat, day and night, even if there was a rubber tire, well three rubber tires, forming around his stomach...

Life for him was hectic, being a Muslim, ‘acting Muslim’ and living Muslim. He wore a long white robe, grey track bottoms rolled slightly upwards, whilst the frown on his face accompanied a very long beard. He did not believe in engaging in ‘western’ activities which consisted of everything and anything to do with the outside world. Akbar felt this life was hard, after all he is a Muslim, and so the only pleasure permitted, he thought, was eating and that is exactly what he did—excessively.

Adab (Etiquettes) of eating is a long lost skill that has been vaporized from the Muslim community courtesy of oily kebabs on the go and extensive take out menu’s. This etiquette once taught and held dearly by the lovers of the Prophet (pbuh) now seems to be folkloric talk.

One trend that I was horrified to see when I arrived in London, from Canada was take out Kebab/Shawarma places nestled in between neighborhoods, offering cheap yet good quality food, targeting Halal-conscious Muslims. Prototypes like Akbar find these places God sent, and are happy that as Muslims one can at least “enjoy” food.

A few weeks ago I came across a study that analysed the meat sold in British Kebab/Shawarma stores; I was amazed at its findings. Not only did these food stores falsely advertise that the meat being sold is Halal, but some kebabs actually contained portions of pork in them. Further more, these foods contained oil levels that were gastronomically high and were in most cases prepared in the most unhygienic method— which obviously is an open invitation to numerous diseases.

There are numerous Prophetic sayings on eating and it’s etiquettes yet we still like to dig our teeth into fatty burgers and sip sugar loaded drinks for the sake of enjoyment. Did you know that in all four Madhabs eating more then one’s fill, i.e. squeezing in that last piece of chocolate cake after a heavy dinner is actually, disliked.

The word Halal is also synonymous to healthy food, like it or not. Our carnivore habits do little to follow the Prophetic way, considering the companions of the Prophet (pbuh) were semi-vegetarians. In fact in my Madhab (Maliki), it is recommended for the rich to feed their family, meat three times a week and anything more then that is seen as obscure. In today’s society the availability of meat is excessive and to eat a solemnly vegetarian meal is seen as obscure.

Never the less going back to the title of this article, I would like to share that to eat like a slave is to eat only when one is utterly hungry and cannot concentrate. Even then why not fill out stomach with water, fresh vegetables and fruits versus following the western trend of obesity. Islamic teachings tell us not to recline (i.e. on the sofa whilst watching a movie) when eating but instead to sit up and eat, chew more and swallow less.

These are all lessons that you and I must learn and adapt; food you see is only fuel, fuel for prayer and humanly tasks. There are many activities to keep one self busy and one must not always look at food as entertainment. I know as Muslims it is hard to integrate, but can it be that hard to find a martial arts class for brothers or sisters only? Can it be that hard to find a swimming pool accommodating Muslims, or to start a book club? We have liberties given to us by this dear country; we must channel them and not become obese drones fulfilling a larger agenda that is promoting self- ignorance. I leave you with a saying of our dear Prophet (pbuh)

Imam Ahmad narrates, the Prophet (pbuh) said, “No man fills a vessel worse than his stomach. A few mouthfuls that would suffice to keep his back upright are enough for a man. But if he must eat more, than he should fill one third (of his stomach) with food, one third with drink and leave one third for easy breathing.”

Personal recommendation: Adab of Eating : Al-Ghazali (ra)