Undeniably every human being requires a balanced intake of nourishment and sustenance to function normally. Without food and its nutrition a person will be unable to live a normal life. Food and nourishment are therefore vital for every human being.

Pure and Wholesome

Allah Ta'ala, having created man, knows best his requirements. Therefore Allah Ta'ala has advised us to "eat of the sustenance that We have bestowed upon you, pure and wholesome". Spiritually, food should be pure, and physically it should be wholesome. This combination gives a person the ideal nourishment to conduct a life of righteousness.

Spiritual food

Spiritually pure food is food acquired from stringently halaal resources, prepared with a sincere heart, and eaten with spiritual enhancement in mind. Food of this nature is rare and generally confined to the walls of one's home. When food is prepared and consumed on the home table it injects piety, breeds love and creates Islamic spirit and character within individuals. The mundane urge of filling the belly is transformed into a spiritually enriching exercise. The Sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is revived and an atmosphere of Deen is created in the home.

Wholesome food

The food prepared and consumed at home is also superior and enriching to the physical metabolism of a person. This enables a person to conduct his religious activities and Ibadah with agility and precision. It also enables a person to conduct his daily duties and occupation with strength and confidence.

Sunnah secured

The home eating environment is such that a person is able to practise the noble Sunnah practices of eating with ease and comfort. Starting off from washing the hands, not drying them, sitting on the floor in the Sunnah posture with one’s shoes removed, reciting the prescribed duaas and eating with three fingers of the right hand ensures that a person reaps full benefit from the meal. Thereafter licking the fingers and reciting the duaas for lifting the table cloth and after eating, can all be ideally practised if food is consumed in the environment of the home.

A Step further

Women who are particular will also ensure that they prepare meals in the condition of wudhu (ablution) and also engage themselves in some form of Zikr whilst cooking. This highly charged meal would boost the spirituality of those consuming it to such a level that their every action becomes Ibadah (worship).

Islam is so comprehensive that at every opportunity we are encouraged to remember the bounties of Allah Ta'ala and to reflect on our purpose of creation. The food we consume daily should not be a fruitless exercise.

In the light of Quran and Hadith the home is the most favourable place to dine. So insist on home food, prepared at home.