Lights, stage, camera, food, action! This is the typical scene at an over the top, overblown traditional Asian wedding. If you have ever been to an Asian wedding, you will know that there are up to five different starters, three different main meals and a dazzling array of desserts to choose from. And it is not even a buffet! When it comes to preparing for a wedding, it is essential to have fine food in order to satisfy the guests, otherwise you will have disgruntled relatives and friends returning home with an endless tirade of moans and groans.
On the contrary, in Islam when we take a look back at the Prophet Muhammad’s era, the people did not eat as if they were filling their stomachs for up to four people. Neither did they lavishly overspend on meals for their weddings. As is mentioned in one of the hadith (saying of the Prophet),
Another hadith states, ‘We are a people who do not eat until we are hungry. And if we eat, we do not eat to full’.
A person posted a comment on a forum under the title ‘Wastage of Food in Indian Weddings’. This got me thinking, rather than wasting money on an excessive amount of food, wouldn’t it be a much better idea if they could donate food or an equal amount of money to charity, so they could feed the poor? And at the same time still have lovely, delicious food at your wedding.
As Citizen Khan, the protagonist of the BBC Series stated a wedding should consist of ‘getting cucumber sandwiches, a cup of tea, Thank You for coming, Bye Bye’. Simple enough right? I would love to hear your comments and wedding experiences so feel free to comment below.
hi khadeja..i couldnt agree with you any more..WHAT A WASTE OF FOOD!!! think of all that money that could have fed so many famillies in the third world countries. Is it not such a shame people feel they have to please other people and the society rather than there Lord. Or is it that, they feel they have to show they are better than the next person. Does Islam not say that a Muslim will be accountable for all he has wasted...
ReplyDeleteThank you for your input. It is a shame when we know that there are many around the world who can't even afford clean water to drink, never mind the food. We see distressful images portrayed by various charities and in the news, but still we think of ourselves and our temptations. If we just take a step back and monitor the left overs thrown in the bin just for a week, surely we will realize how much food is gone to waste. On weddings there is no limit on the left overs and waste. I have witnessed black bags and bags of left overs going to bins. Islam condemns such waste, all Muslims are accountable for wasting any resources, it is clearly stated in the Quran, 'O children of ‘Adam, take on your adornment at every mosque. Eat and drink and do not be extravagant. Surely, He does not like the extravagant' (7:31). Only if we can realize.
ReplyDeletewell I can't deny I love to eat! Infact sometimes I turn to food for fun. :) But I do try my best not to waste food as I am aware this is a sin. I don't think there is anything wrong in providing lavish meals at weddings and in regards to wasting and left-overs isn't it just simple to invite less people and order the right amount instead?
ReplyDeleteI would also like to add that one does not have to eat excessively at weddings..eat small portions and you won't be falling over with a hanging belly!
ReplyDeleteYou are right, there is nothing wrong with having lavish meals and having a small wedding. But does this really takes place in Asian weddings. Asian weddings are increasingly turning into competitions, 'if so and so had 500 guests in her/his wedding then I'll have 50-100 more on mine, can't have less than 500'. I think with this sort of attitude people take large amount of loans out if they can't afford a big wedding. In this big wedding food is the first priority, I mean it has to have an endless number of dishes and in some cultures (some Pakistani cultures) ordering food per head is considered shameful, cause the number of people attending the wedding is unpredictable. You are right that one does not have to eat excessively, but I am afraid that doesn't happened. With so many dishes around, the temptation of trying different things without realizing when to stop leads to the wastage of food, (which is a sin in Islam as I mentioned before).
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