Every deed that respects others and derives from the kindness of our hearts is rewarding in Islam. The same idea is applied to eating food without criticizing it. While it does not mean to quietly swallow foul or unhealthy food, instead, it means to appreciate the hard work and precision it takes to make good food.
It is one way to show gratitude to Allah for the food that is made available to us that we consume every day. We are blessed if we have a hearty meal every day and even more blessed if we have someone who makes such meals for us so that we do not have to do it by ourselves. Either way, if we are sleeping at night with a filled belly, we are blessed and we should be immensely thankful to Allah for it.
Islam places a high value on expressing appreciation to Allah for his blessings; therefore, even if we haven’t requested anything specifically, we should always thank him for what he has given us. By building a more grounded relationship with Allah through appreciation, we could expand our certainty and encourage an association with him that is undeniably better. As Allah says in the Quran:
فَٱذْكُرُونِىٓ أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لِى وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ
“…remember Me; I will remember you. And thank Me, and never be ungrateful.” [1]
Moreover, Islam exhorts Muslims to share their meals with others, incredibly the less privileged, as it is also considered a charity, which is also liked by Allah (SWT). We fulfill our obligation to assist those in need and increase Allah’s blessings and rewards towards us by sharing our food. Described ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Bakr:
The companions of Suffa were poor people. The Prophet (ﷺ) once said, “Whoever has food enough for two persons should take a third one (from among them), and whoever has food enough for four persons should take a fifth or a sixth (or said something similar).” [2]
Moreover, it is a way to build stronger bonds to eat without criticizing. Although, if genuine improvements are needed to the way one cooks certain meals, they should be communicated in a manner that presents care and empathy instead of speaking harshly and refusing to see the efforts behind the deed. Even Allah is merciful to us when we make mistakes, so we should also show mercy and kindness to those who make mistakes. And food is no exception. Allah commands us to express our gratitude to Him for all our blessings, including food. By satisfying this commitment, we adore Allah and seek His pleasure. In the Quran, Allah says:
فَكُلُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ حَلَـٰلًۭا طَيِّبًۭا وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
“So eat from the good, lawful things which Allah has provided for you, and be grateful for Allah’s favours, if you ˹truly˺ worship Him ˹alone˺.” [3]
Improving Relationships
Wherever we are in the world, we need to eat at least twice a day. No matter what occasion we attend to; weddings, funerals, or birthday celebrations, we often use much of the time to sit and eat together. That is because we understand that food is the one thing that brings us closer to others. But what usually happens is that instead of light-hearted conversation, we often start comparing what we eat to what could be better. We end up criticizing the organizer for making poor choices. In a hadith narrated by Abu Huraira:
“The Prophet (ﷺ) never criticized any food (presented to him), but he would eat it if he liked it; otherwise, he would leave it (without expressing his dislike).” [4]
Familial and Marital Relationships
In every marriage, husband, and wife are encouraged to cook or prepare a meal together as it is a way of bringing them close to each other. If your spouse has cooked for you and prepared dinner, you have to appreciate the gesture because it is a fundamental aspect of nurturing a human being. Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said:
“The one who eats and is grateful is like the status of the patient fasting person.” [5]
In households, we never have to ask or beg anyone to provide us with food. We are presented with dishes without any difficulties because our mothers, our sisters, and our wives wordlessly perform their duties and provide us with food on plates. We do not need to even get up to go to the kitchen because we are given everything on the table. That act alone calls for gratitude and appreciation.
Neighbors’ Relationships
Every once in a while, we might receive a dish from our neighbors or get together to enjoin for a hearty meal. While every household has a different consistency of spices and differences of taste, we should also be appreciating them thinking of us while making such dishes.
We should think that if we were the ones to send our neighbors food that is frowned upon and criticized, we would not like it. In the same way, we should also think of their feelings when they send us a meal or a dish. As a way of gratitude, we should also send them something in the same utensils. It shows appreciation as well as acts as a catalyst to improve relations with them.
Constructive Criticism
Sometimes, people make foods that are unhealthy. Sometimes we encounter such dishes in someone else’s home that are made, although with love, but without choosing healthier options. In such matters, criticism becomes essential. We have to point out the harmful impact of such foods that might contain a high amount of oil or salt or any other spices.
But criticism during these matters should only be to teach others to make better choices. We should not be condemning them for making unhealthy dinners or slandering them for their food choices. We are supposed to be telling them the benefits of using organic products that are made halal for us by Allah and the consequences of eating unhealthy and haram to the human body and in the hereafter.
That is the way of constructive criticism that we should adopt and that also should be in front of the one who cooks such food and makes such food decisions instead of choosing to slander them behind their backs. If we criticize everything that we eat, then we are invoking Allah’s displeasure. It would make us the same as Bani Israelis who were ungrateful to Allah even when Allah sent food from Heaven. They were met with misery and that will be our consequence too. It can clearly be understood by the following verse:
وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ لَن نَّصْبِرَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامٍۢ وَٰحِدٍۢ فَٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُخْرِجْ لَنَا مِمَّا تُنۢبِتُ ٱلْأَرْضُ مِنۢ بَقْلِهَا وَقِثَّآئِهَا وَفُومِهَا وَعَدَسِهَا وَبَصَلِهَا ۖ قَالَ أَتَسْتَبْدِلُونَ ٱلَّذِى هُوَ أَدْنَىٰ بِٱلَّذِى هُوَ خَيْرٌ ۚ ٱهْبِطُوا۟ مِصْرًۭا فَإِنَّ لَكُم مَّا سَأَلْتُمْ ۗ وَضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلذِّلَّةُ وَٱلْمَسْكَنَةُ وَبَآءُو بِغَضَبٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يَكْفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا۟ وَّكَانُوا۟ يَعْتَدُونَ
“And ˹remember˺ when you said, “O Moses! We cannot endure the same meal ˹every day˺. So ˹just˺ call upon your Lord on our behalf, He will bring forth for us some of what the earth produces of herbs, cucumbers, garlic, lentils, and onions.” Moses scolded ˹them˺, “Do you exchange what is better for what is worse? ˹You can˺ go down to any village and you will find what you have asked for.” They were stricken with disgrace and misery, and they invited the displeasure of Allah for rejecting Allah’s signs and unjustly killing the prophets. This is ˹a fair reward˺ for their disobedience and violations.” [6]
Conclusion
In conclusion, when we choose to see the positive aspect of eating the food that Allah has provided us with, we automatically become grateful. Including that, we end up improving relationships with our family, neighbors, and relatives and earning Allah’s blessings. We follow the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him) by choosing to eat without criticizing and live more fulfilling, meaningful lives by showing appreciation for Allah’s favors.
Eating food without criticizing Rewarding is part of an amazing series of content. For more, you are very much encouraged to follow our whole series Time to Revive where we discuss the forgotten sunnah or Prophet Muhammad Peace be Upon Him and try to revive them by considering most of the perspectives of the modern world. Reading them and making them a habit is now your choice.
By Joweria Shahid
