RESPECTING FOOD IN THIS HOLLY MONTH

[surrender]

and all months alike.

We should remember the importance food has in our lives, especially this blessed month of ramadhan, most of us in qurbaha today have something to eat, no matter how little how big, but we all have plates of food waiting for us when we come from work, school etc etc. But we have to remember even right in as we speak there are people who are going hungry, who don’t have a drop of water, no bread, nothing as simple as a piece of bread. So let us all remember how lucky we are and appreciate the food god has given us. We should read our dua’s before, and after food.

Most importantly we should all respect food. One thing I’ve notice here in the UK is that food is not respected as much as when we were back home, if any of were brought up in Somalia you would all remember when our parents used to say to say, cutada haku istaagin, or dhulka cuntada kagur, or not throw anything away. We used to give any leftovers to ariga/xoola ayaan banaanka udhigijirna.

What happen when we came here? I do not know, but walahi you will see people stepping on food, not given any consideration that you not suppose to step on food-akhlaaq wanaagsan maaha. Worse someone wil throw away good food simply because he/she didn’t like the way it was cooked, it was burned, too salty, too much sugar etc etc. Seen as we muslim we should give consideration to food

Muslims are taught to be grateful for each piece of bread, because one never knows when that piece of bread (which is usually the cheapest food anyone can afford) becomes your only source of food. So, in a way, it has become a symbol of 'rizq' which God gives us, and wasting it is like throwing away a blessing.

and even extra consideration seen as we are Somali and dadkeenii gaajay udhimanayaan, today there is Somali refugees everywhere in the world, there are Somalia-right now who haven’t got a drop of water, waxay kuafuraan waayay, so people please care for food, if you see anyone stepping on it, tell me not to, and them the importance food has.
peace

[surrender]

and while we are talking about food, here's interesting peace of article i got from a website, it talks about lots of different types food. it mightinterest you when you buying food nex time.

Food & Drink
» Halal and Haram » Intoxicants » Pork By-Products » Seafood » Cheese » E-Numbers » Further Reading
Halal & Haram
When dealing with food and drink, you will often hear two words - halal and haram. Halal is an Arabic word meaning lawful or permitted. The opposite of halal is haram, which means unlawful or prohibited. halal and haram are in fact universal terms that apply to all facets of life.
As far as food is concerned, the Qur'an makes it quite clear as to what is halal and haram. Basically, all food is halal except for the following:
• Meat from swine - pork, ham, gammon, bacon, etc
• Pork-based products and by-products - sausages, gelatine etc
• Animals improperly slaughtered, or already dead before slaughtering is due to take place
• Animals killed in the name of anyone other than Allah (for example, by anyone other than a Jew, Christian or Muslim, or killed as part of a pagan sacrifice)
• Intoxicants
• Most carnivorous animals, birds of prey and land animals without external ears (i.e., snakes, reptiles, worms, insects etc.)
• Blood and blood by-products
• Foods contaminated with any of the above products
While many things are clearly halal or clearly haram, there are some things which are not clear. These items are considered questionable or suspect and more information is needed to categorise them as halal or haram. Such items are often referred to as Mashbooh, which means doubtful or questionable. Food falling into this category should be treated as haram until you know otherwise.
Intoxicants
It should be noted that the Qur'an specifies all intoxicants (not just alcohol) as being haram. An intoxicant is, by definition, a substance eaten, drunk or smoked with the sole intention of becoming intoxicated, or a substance created with that purpose in mind. This basically means alcoholic drinks and narcotic drugs.
Any food which was made with an alcoholic drink (usually wine) is haram because, although the food itself probably couldn't get you drunk, it's alcoholic ingredient was made for that purpose. In most cases this is obvious - for instance Coq au Vin (chicken in wine) or Beef and Ale Pie. In contrast, some seemingly innocent foods can be made using alcoholic drinks and are therefore haram - examples are mince pies and teriyaki sauce. Always check the ingredients label!
In contrast, alcohol can be found in some halal foods, such as bread and soy sauce. These sometimes contain minute amounts of alcohol as a result of a natural reaction between certain chemicals during the manufacturing process (as opposed to alcoholic drinks being deliberately added to food to add flavour), and so couldn't be classed as haram.
Some medicines and mouthwashes contain alcohol - if you can find an non-alcoholic alternative then use that instead. Medicines containing alcohol would be considered halal if there were no suitable alternatives available. It should be noted that only ethyl alcohol (such as methylated spirits and ethanol, the alcohol found in alcoholic drinks) are intoxicating and are therefore haram. Other forms of alcohol (such as stearyl) are not intoxicating. These types of alcohol won't be found in any food or drink due to the fact that they are generally poisonous, but it is a point worth bearing in mind when buying household goods containing these.
Pork By-Products
This includes ingredients such as gelatine, emulsifiers, fat and enzymes. All of these are haram. They also have alternatives that are either halal or vegetarian that can just as easily be used in their place. Items that can contain these pork-based ingredients include:
• Jelly / Jell-O desserts
• Marshmallows
• Jelly / Gum sweets
• Lard
Some medicines and supplements (especially Cod Liver Oil) also use gelatine as part of their capsules. It can be permissible to use these, but ONLY if there are no suitable alternatives.
Seafood
The Qur'an states that everything from the sea is halal, including carnivores such as sharks. You'll see that the list I wrote above says MOST carnivorous animals are haram. Marine predators seem to be the exception to this rule.
I have also seen some sources stating that prawns, crabs and other crustaceans are haram based on other verses of the Qur'an which mentions that seawater is bitter. This is not true as the verse quoted (follow the link) states that all food from the sea is halal.
Cheese
Some cheeses, including popular types such as Cheddar, are made with an ingredient called 'rennet'. Traditionally, this is obtained from the cow's stomach which, if the cow was not slaughtered according the Islamic rites, would render it haram. Many cheeses nowadays are made using vegetable rennet, so always choose these if possible.
E-Numbers
A question I am often asked is which artificial additives are halal and which are haram. A full list of E-Numbers and whether they are permissible or not is provided by the Muslim Consumer Group.
The main additives you need to be aware of are:
• Cochineal (E120) - this is obtained from the blood of the Cochineal beetle. This additive is always haram because the consumption of blood and insects is forbidden.
• Glycerol / Glycerin / Glycerine (E422) - haram if obtained from pork or non-halal meat sources.
• Gelatin / Gelatine (E441) - haram if obtained from pork or non-halal meat sources - the source is sometimes mentioned on the ingredients list. A vegetarian alternative is available.
• Emulsifiers (E470 to E483) - haram if obtained from pork or non-halal sources.
• Edible Bone Phosphate (E542) - haram if obtained from pork or non-halal meat sources.
Always check the ingredients list carefully!
Further Reading
I've tried to cover as many 'grey areas' as I can think of. If you have any other queries, you can go to the Muslim Consumer Group as this site specialises in Islamic issues regarding food and drink. Alternatively, you can try Islamicity's Ask The Imam section. This is a searchable database of questions asked to a panel of imams and scholars about a whole host of subjects concerning Islam. I can highly recommend this page as I have learnt a lot through it, and the information contained seems to be more reliable than other Q&A pages I have come across.
Return to Top - © Amir Brooks - 2006 / 1427
1. {foods which are forbidden}: The Holy Qur'an, 5:3 - Prohibited for you are animals that die of themselves, blood, the meat of pigs, and animals dedicated to other than Allah. (Animals that die of themselves include those) strangled, struck with an object, fallen from a height, gored, attacked by a wild animal - unless you save your animal before it dies - and animals sacrificed on altars... (return to 'forbidden foods' reference)
2. {prohibition of intoxicants): The Holy Qur'an, 5:90 - O you who believe, intoxicants, and gambling, and the altars of idols, and the games of chance are abominations of the devil; you shall avoid them, that you may succeed. (return to 'intoxicants' reference)
3. (permissibility of seafood): The Holy Qur'an, 35:12 - The two seas are not the same; one is fresh and delicious, while the other is salty and undrinkable. From each of them you eat tender meat, and extract jewelry to wear. And you see the ships sailing through them, seeking His provisions, that you may be appreciative. (return to 'seafood' reference)

[1_londoner]

Thanx Surr.

Aniga cuntuda ma ku istaago laakiin i am guilty of throwing things away once in a while.

[Somalian_Boqor]

Thanks inadeer well said.

[curious cat]

we throw food away because we know whats our next meal is going to be, or where we going to eat next week with friends. But if we lived in poor country we would be fighting over leftovers. We should take care of food.