How Food Becomes Food For Thought.

[Abu Fauzi]

Salaam everyone,

Sometimes, we complain about the cost of food or its availability, but we hardly reflect on the origin, meaning and significance of food, or its bearing on sustaining human existence, nations political fortunes and future of mankind. In this regard, let us examine or relect on what Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala says in verses 24-32 of Surat Abasa of the Holy Qur'an (80:24):--


'' LET MAN, THEN, CONSIDER (THE SOURCES OF) HIS FOOD:
(HOW IT IS) THAT WE POUR DOWN WATER, POURING IT DOWN
ABUNDANTLY; AND THEN WE CLEAVE THE EARTH (WITH NEW GROWTH)
CLEAVING IT ASUNDER, AND THEREUPON WE CAUSE GRAIN TO GROW OUT
OF IT, AND VINES AND EDIBLE PLANTS, AND OLIVE TREES AND DATE-PALMS,
AND GARDENS DENSE WITH FOLIAGE, AND FRUITS AND HERBAGE, FOR YOU AND
FOR YOUR ANIMALS TO ENJOY''.

In these Ayats (verses), we appreciate the story of food, the provision of which is carefully planned by the Hand which created man. Man plays no role in any of its stages; even the seeds and grains he casts on the earth are not of his making, but that of Allah, Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.