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@ Halal | January-February . 2021

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“ A friend in greed : solidarity makes us choose fatty foods ”, is more than a mere captivating headline used by The Times daily to attract their readers . It is a powerful message to the public on the considerable influence of social factors on our dietary habit .

A study conducted by the Seoul National University research team found people were more likely to choose the high-calorie menu together with partners who first ordered fatty food . This choice is made as an act out of solidarity , to make sure the partners feel less guilty about their food choice .

Besides the choice of menu , people also tend to adjust the quantity of food intake to match their dining partners .

Eating with others is perceived to be more enjoyable , and the reward gained from it tends to make people eat more than when dining alone . This may partially explain the phenomenon of weight gaining after one month of dawn to dusk obligatory fasting in Ramadan , as Muslim community disproportionately focuses on serving elaborate and festive meals to family and friends , as they break their fast .

One study found that approximately twothirds of the 173 Saudi families ( 59.5 per cent ) reported weight gain after Ramadan . There seems to be an unwritten social rule that somehow tolerates overindulging when people are eating together .

As such , even though fasting for a month provides an opportunity for a dietary reset , some of us end up even heavier than when we started .

Conforming to a group norm has been for many a rewarding experience . People tend to change their preference and quantity of their food intake to fit their norm ; this helps them

By Anis nAjiha Ahmad

and

DIVINE

Solidarity for HALALan TOYYIBan Diet

BAD

“ People are more likely to choose high-calorie menu together with partners who first ordered a fatty food .”

Inculcate HALALan TOYYIBan diet via social interaction , towards God ’ s blessings

GOOD

Yumi Zuhanis Has-Yun Hashim

International Institute for Halal Research and Training ( INHART ), International Islamic University Malaysia

“ People might eat less than usual if they think that consuming a small amount is socially favorable ”.

Conforming to a group norm is a rewarding experience for many people . Social norms can influence people ' s eating behavior positively , or negatively .

As such , even though fasting for a month provides an opportunity for a dietary reset , some of us end up even heavier than when we started .”

to enhance their affiliation with a social group and being liked .

Evidence from several studies has shown that social influences on eating are powerful and extensive . To one end , there is research that pointed a social norm as the principal factor for obesity development and maintenance . There is even evidence that linked social norm or context with the spread of obesity .

Barakah of eating together

Social eating is not all that bad . Quite the contrary , in these modern times , as people spend less and less time in face-to-face encounters , making time for and joining in social eating is more important than ever .

Social eating or eating together has been regarded as traditional social glue . The idea of jama ’ ah ( being together or a congregation ) is a central theme in Islam .

The rewards for prayer in a congregation , for instance , is 27 times more than the reward for worship alone . Likewise , eating together is also preferred in Islam as evident from the following prophetic tradition .

“ Eat together and do not eat separately , for the blessing is in being together .”

( Sunan Ibn Majah , Vol . 4 , Book 29 , Hadith 3287 )

The benefits of eating together are also well-documented scientifically . Social eating facilitates broader and stronger community and inter-community relationships .

It also reinforces our social bonding with friends and family , as hosting the gathering is often associated with praise and appreciation . The well-formed social relationships via social eating will also have indirect health benefits for an individual .

Understanding the impact and mechanism of the social norm to diet , both for the better and worse is essential . Social norms provide a guide or norm for appropriate behaviour in society .

While it could lead people towards unhealthy eating behaviour , studies have also shown that the social norm is equally powerful to direct people to eat healthily .

For instance , people might eat less than usual if they think that consuming a small amount is socially favourable . Emphasising the healthy eating intentions and behaviours of others and ultimately change the society ’ s norm towards eating as a whole may be beneficial in bringing about dietary change .

Social eating as the tool to promote halalan toyyiban diet

The rising prevalence of obesity in many Muslim countries signifies the urgent need for healthy dietary practices . Diet unarguably is a basis towards a healthy and strong society and nation .

“ A strong believer is better and more beloved in the sight of God than a weak believer , [ however ], there is good in [ both types ]….”

( Sahih Muslim , Book 46 , Hadith 52 )

While some Islamic scholars refer “ strong ” in this context , mainly as spiritual strength , there are also Islamic scholars such as Imam al-Nawawi ( d . 1277 ) who attributed the word “ strong ” to physical strength .

A healthy diet is one that helps maintain or improve overall health . Dietary practice in Islam is not about finding the halal source only , and it is about embracing the holistic and wholesome diet – or in short halalan toyibban nutritional patterns .

The collective efforts toward promoting and practising holistic diet are not only good , but also demanded by the religion of Islam . It is a divine cause .

Changing an unhealthy diet can be challenging . Knowing the importance of society as a powerful tool to advocate changes , we need to reform the way we approach social eating to reflect the diet that is halalan toyyiban truly .

The effort could include educating our local community that social gathering should not be necessarily accompanied by more food intake . Most importantly , we need to educate our Muslim communities , and other communities on halalan toyibban diet as this message is for the entire humanity .

Conclusion

Muslims are social creatures , with firm root to the committee . As a close-knit community , we eat together – sometimes , even from a single plate .

For Muslims , eating together is not the only means for social bonding , but it is also one of the prophetic traditions . As a noble cause , social eating should be used to encourage healthier eating for the greater good , not the enabler for unhealthy diets .

It is very timely for us to use our interaction as the platform to teach healthy and balance eating habits , the diet that is halalan toyyiban . We shall aim for the divine solidarity towards building a healthy and strong nation . This noble vision is without doubt , well-grounded with maqasid al-shari ’ ah ( the higher objectives of the shari ’ ah ).

Our social eating should be both healthy and enjoyable , halal and toyyib – the way for us to obtain the God ’ s blessings ( barakat , s . barakah ) in the present life and the Hereafter .