Let’s recall. How often do we thank Allah when He gives us food? Or do we criticise a dish more often than thanking Him for whatever He has given us? It’s time for us to evaluate ourselves!
Recently, we have seen cases of people dying of hunger. All thanks to Allah, we are blessed with varieties of food in Singapore. Getting food in Singapore is a problem that hardly exists, don’t you agree?
The Eighteen Chef case
Few days back, we have witnessed a person who published a picture with a caption explaining how the restaurant that he patronized at did not satisfy his expectations. He actually over-turned his bowl of food and spilled the dishes on the table. The article can be found at TheRealSingapore.com
On the other hand, I would like to personally applaud Eighteen Chef’s Director for his positive attitude on this matter. In his recent Facebook post, he said, “Once again I urge you to give Roy C a break. We have to move on from here . I don’t hold grudges, cos I am a firm believer of a gracious society.”
I have been to the restaurant with my students for my Iftar (break-fast meal) last Ramadhan. To be frank, we faced problems there as well. For example, the food was served an hour late. However, the staff were very friendly and kind. The inconvenience was compensated with four complimentary bowls of soup with garlic bread! Free food, alhamdulillah!
Rasulullah ﷺ and food
Let us all be reminded that there was once when Rasulullah ﷺ was given an orange that was really sour, not to his liking. How did he react? He did not throw it away neither did he spit it out. He smiled, did not even complain about it, and finished it.
Rasulullah never criticized food. According to the book titled Syamaail Muhammadiyah, Rasulullah ﷺ did not say, “The food is not properly cooked; there is no salt; the soup is too thick or thin.” Complaining about food may only hurt the one who prepared it. It is often that the food served was the best that the preparer had to offer. How could we have the heart to express displeasure by posting it online and tell the whole world? Isn’t it such a disgrace?
Our beloved Prophet also did not approve the act of wasting food. It is reported from Anas bin Malik that Rasulullah ﷺ preferred to eat the leftovers from the plate or pot.
Subhanallah! It is such a great behavior of which we can take lessons from. There will be times when the food served to us does not taste perfect, just do not complain about it. If you wish to constructively comment on the cooking, do so politely. You never know, maybe it was just your taste buds that were problematic that day. 
Allah has said in the Quran (7:31), “O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.” The verse did not specify the act of wasting only to Muslim but it was meant for everyone. Be it Muslims, Jews, Christians, Buddhists and whoever calls himself as one of the children of Adam (peace be upon him).
Ramadhan, the month of food festival?
My beloved brothers and sisters, Ramadhan is around the corner. I am sure that some of us may have mistook Ramadhan for the month of food festival – well you know, there are food bazaars here and there, the dendeng, char kuey teow and ayam percik.
It is not wrong to spend your money on food but remember not to waste the food you’ve bought. If you are full after having your break-fast, perhaps you can keep the rest of the food for your sahur (pre-dawn meal) or why not keeping it for your Iftar the following day?
Let us strive to become better Muslims this coming Ramadan by not wasting our food and showing how thankful we are towards the substenance and all types of nikmah that Allah has given us.
May this sharing benefit us all and I end with a verse from the Quran (14:7), “and [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.”
abdulrauuf 