Vacations and Eating Out
Hadrat Hakeem Saheb Rahimahullah taught us a very effective and beneficial Wazeefah which should be recited:
“Ya Subboohu! Ya Quddoosu! Ya Ghafooru! Ya Wadoodu!”
A person residing in Saudi wrote to Hadrat Hakeem Saheb after reciting the above Wazeefah saying how, every time he had a need and he read this Wazeefah, his need was fulfilled.
We have already discussed the first part of the Hadith where Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam told us to “Control your tongue!”, where we should be cognizant of the words we use, the manner in which we speak and the content of our speech. We learn the importance of Adab, which is greatly lacking in us today to a great extent.
The second thing Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam advised us was, “Your house should suffice you!” Today, we build comfortable and luxurious homes but at the time of holidays, we look for accommodation elsewhere to “get away” from the house. Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is telling us that our homes should provide that comfort which we seek elsewhere. Hadrat Hakeem Saheb Rahimahullah says further, that Allah Ta’ala inspired him with another understanding of this Hadith. Hadrat understood that a person should not commit any sins, as such actions will cause the home to be a curse upon one. Hadrat proves this understanding from the incident of the three Sahaabah Radiallahu Anhum, namely Hadrat Ka’ab bin Malik Radiallahu Anhu, Hadrat Muraarah bin Rabi’ Radiallahu Anhu and Hadrat Bilaal bin Umayyah Radiallahu Anhu, who failed to participate in the Battle of Tabuk. When Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam returned to Madinah, they excused themselves by saying it was due to wealth that they refrained from participating in the Battle. On this, Allah Ta’ala instructed Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam that no one should talk to these Sahaba Radiallahu Anhum. For fifty days, no one spoke to them. Allah Ta’ala says in the Quraan Sharif that the entire land of Madinah, which is so vast, became narrow for them; meaning, they lived in misery. After fifty days passed, Allah Ta’ala accepted their Taubah and they were given glad-tidings. Hadrat comments on this saying that the Noble City of Madinah became a place of misery for them due to their actions, until their Taubah was accepted. Similarly, our comfortable homes will become a curse and misery in spite of it comprising of all the means of comfort and pleasure.
Nowadays, people leave their homes and book vacations in chalets, resorts and hotels. In these places, a person does not have access to the Halaal food which he enjoys at home, prepared by his wife who is a believing, pure woman. This, as opposed to eating at restaurants where the employees do not even have Imaan, they do not take the name of Allah Ta’ala when preparing the food and, their hygiene is highly doubtful. Some might argue that they stay at self-catering places where they carry their own food prepared from home. Here, the question arises about the utensils, crockery and cutlery that will be used to serve their Halaal food. Perhaps it was also used to serve Haraam food and alcohol, which will definitely have a negative effect on a person.
When a person goes on holiday, it has such an effect on him that he does away with wearing his kurta; a woman who religiously dons the Niqaab at home, on holiday, she leaves it out; and what to say of people who perform Nafl salaah at home now find difficulty in reading their Fardh salaah while on holiday!
There was a discussion over the radio where a restaurant in the Northern Johannesburg suburbs, frequented by White people, was suspected of something untoward. After installing surveillance cameras, they found that the employees were adding their bile and phlegm to the patrons food. After an interrogation, they were told by the employees that this was an act of revenge on the White patrons for the afflictions carried out on their forefathers during apartheid.
In another radio interview, waiters were questioned on how they dealt with rude and unruly customers. They responded that they would take water from the toilet and sprinkle it over the food before serving it to them.
Our Sheikh mentioned an incident where a pest-control expert visited the home of someone. The pest-control expert told this person that he once visited an eatery in Fordsburg after they complained of rat infestation. When he opened the kitchen door, he found the meat on the floor and rats running over it. He commented on how we enjoy the food with relish not realizing what happens behind the scenes.
A family from Mpumalanga visited a McDonald’s restaurant and ordered some food from there. After opening their meal, they came across a frog cooked inside it.
On a recent safr, a family related how they do not consume shop-bought mayonnaise and tomato sauce but instead, make their own homemade versions. Upon enquiring the reason behind it, they explained that they were wholesalers of eggs. Sometimes, there are rotten batches of eggs, which the supplier offers to take back. They enquired from the supplier as to why he takes the eggs back, because nothing can be done with rotten eggs. The supplier told them that the manufacturers of mayonnaise use these eggs in the production of mayonnaise. It was after hearing this that the family refrained from using shop-bought condiments. The family went on to explain why they don’t eat commercially sold fruit. Near where they reside, they came across a farmer who explained to them how the fruit is picked early from the trees and put into a Sulphur solution that ripens it overnight. We don’t realize that even what appears to be naturally sourced, is made artificial. This is why we should read:
بسم الله الذي لا يضر مع اسمه شيء في الأرض ولا في السماء وهو السميع العليم
We should seek protection from Allah Ta’ala from all types of harm, because we are unaware of the true sources of our food.
On another occasion while travelling with someone, the topic of “eating out” came up. We reminisced about our younger days when we would buy food from a take-away and still found enjoyment in it. At the time, we used to live in central town and whenever one wanted to eat chicken, he could purchase live chickens, freshly slaughter it and take it home. Today, it’s hard to come by food of such nature. Even if the establishment claims to be 100% Halaal, the method of preparation is dubious. The travelling companion agreed and pointed out that, employees who work in restaurants have no interest in the food they prepare, it is merely a job to them. This is in stark contrast to the efforts in preparation made by our womenfolk at home. Their concentration and thought that goes into cooking a meal has an impact on those who will partake of it.
May Allah Ta’ala grant us Taufeeq to understand that the best food is the food in our homes. Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam told us more than 1400 years ago, that our homes should suffice us. Our Sheikh relates that, if a person visits Madinah Munawwarah and after eating the Ajwa dates of Madinah, his wife conceives, then the child will be referred to as a ‘Madani – a child attributed to Madinah Sharif’. We should note that whatever food a person consumes, it is used in the production of the sperm. If a person visited Makkah Shareef and drank the Zam-Zam there, and the sperm produced from the Zam-Zam resulted in the wife conceiving, then we will call that child a ‘Makki child – a child attributed to Makkah’. On this point, Hadhrat draws our attention to the food that we consume nowadays, which is considered as “junk food”. So, with the same sentiment, a child born from sperm created from junk food will now be called a “junkie”. It’s no wonder that we complain that our children are lazy, unfit, lethargic, etc. What we are capable of at our advanced age, children in their youth are struggling with. This is a result of the food that we are eating.
Our Buzurgs used to relish simple Roti and Tarkari (curry) that we can’t match in our biryani today. Hadhrat Maulana Omarjee Saheb was a senior Alim in South Africa during the 60’s and 70’s. Once, Hadrat Maulana Manzoor Nu’mani Saheb visited South Africa. Maulana was invited to various places with lavish Dawats laid out for him. After three days, Maulana said to Maulana Omarjee Saheb that this was not their type of food, nor was it their way of eating. Just simple Tarkari (curry) and roti was sufficient. When we host a Dawat, for example a braai, how much preparation goes into it, from the various types of meats, salads, side-dishes, to the time it takes to start the fire and braai the meat, it could be that one ends up missing his Fardh Salaah. Then, whilst braaing, a person will eat and drink while standing, thereby leaving out the Sunnah. This, as opposed to eating simple food at home with one’s family while observing the Sunnah. How much Barakah will this bring about in that home?!
One hotel stay, or one meal at a restaurant is enough to destroy all the Ruhaaniyyat (spirituality) of a person. An Alim spending his day teaching Quraan, Hadith etc. strengthens his spiritual contact with Allah Ta’ala daily, but if he visits any of these places just once, it’s enough to destroy all the spirituality that he built.
On his last visit to Darul Uloom Azaadville, Haji Ahmad Nakhooda Saheb lamented by saying, “The eyes! Poison! Poison! Poison! This is really poison!” One gaze is enough to destroy you. May Allah Ta’ala grant us understanding that although we look forward to holidays, we do not realize the destruction behind it. Ameen.