During Ramadan, naturally we are pushed to contend and challenge our desires for food, giving us a very potent opportunity to reflect on our relationship with food by providing that distance. Alhamdullilah.
Personally, Ramadan helped me over the years to re-evaluate the way I see and interact with food. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no robot or monk, and I do still slip off the wagon with my good eating habits, but alhamdullilah, that’s not my norm now, and it’s occasional. There were also many experiences, which subhanAllah, gradually shaped my attitudes towards food and eating habits, including seeing the negative impact which overindulgence and an overly processed diet had on my health. Today, when I think deeply about it, food reminds me of Allah. It’s a huge blessing. Not only that but the amount of food we have in the west is an utter luxury.
I am in awe when I see the iftar spread in front of me Alhamdulliah. Because it reveals to me a part of the way Allah works so subtly and mysteriously. A dish sits in front of me dashed in so many pieces and colours of different ingredients. Each ingredient grown and sourced from a vastly different location to the next. The ingredients took nurturing and watering by farmers. After being harvested, these items were transported to supermarkets where they were picked, prepared, and cooked up. Then that person drove to my doorstep, and that plate of food which had vastly far origins, all arranged and configured in the way that it was, was meant for me. For me to eat at that very moment, at that very Iftar. For me to stare at it and be in awe of Allah at that very moment. For it to then further develop my appreciation of, and relationship with food. SubhanAllah, Allah is truly so beautiful. Thus, Ramadan has helped me to appreciate food as something sacred. But also, to appreciate my body as being sacred, and hence not harming it through overconsumption and overindulgence.
There have been other seminal moments which facilitated the evolution of my relationship with food, including looking at the life of the prophet SAW. He lived a gargantualy different lifestyle than we do today, and in this context, especially when discussing food. The prophet SAW life speaks volumes about modesty and moderation. He chose to live in a state of poverty, and this was reflected in the diet which he consumed, but he had the richest life in the eyes of Allah SWT. I wonder what the prophet SAW would think about our glorification and obsession of food in today’s day and age. Yes, we don’t have to live in a state of poverty as Muslims, but I feel it incumbent upon me to endeavour to live in an intentional and moderate way, and not let my desires put me on a leash.
Having noticed that my overindulgent relationship with food misaligned me spiritually and took me further away from the life that I wanted to lead, Alhamdullilah, that helped me to detach myself from the food and instead start to interact with it in a more respectful, appreciative, and moderate way. And I pray that Allah continues to improve me in this regard insha’Allah.
How has Ramadan or learning more about deen developed your relationship with food?
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