Mukbang gained popularity worldwide after a famous American Youtuber uploaded a video addressing South Korean mukbang videos in 2015 .

Typically , mukbangers - the streamer or youtuber - will record themselves eating various food or a large dish / bowl of food to the viewers . Although eating competitions existed years ago , this kind of mukbang is new because there is no competition while recording .

They do not have timers , and most of the time , they can eat at leisure while talking to their viewers . Although there is no apparent competition going on-screen , the mukbangers might be competing with other mukbangers when it comes to eating big . Thus , the transition from supposed virtual social eating to the current trend of binge eating shows .

Simply put , mukbangers are killing two birds with one stone because they get to fill their stomach with delicious food and earn money simultaneously . The more viewers they have , the more money they get .

It is also one reason why there are many mukbang shows on Youtube and other social media platforms .

Mukbang viewers

For South Koreans , eating together is essential , and food plays a significant role in relationships . Even the word “ companion ” means a person who eats bread with someone else .

Based on research , most mukbang viewers watch mukbang alone and often during mealtimes to seek a sense of connection with others .

Some watch it for the vicarious pleasure of the multisensory experience , or for the performative show- binge eating , sloppy eating , appearance , etc .

The idea of mukbang having originated as a substitute for the Korean family dinner , aimed at individuals in single-person households , has been appropriated by sensationalist media and transformed into a bizarre trend detached from its original social context .

BY YUMI ZUHANIS HAS-YUN HASHIM

AND

MUNEERAH ANWAR

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HALAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING

Although there is a possibility that it is the only meal they eat throughout the day , it is still wasted because the body might not be able to absorb the nutrients it needs due to the abundance of food being digested all at once .

Regarding over-eating , consumers , especially Muslim consumers , should know that God does not like it when something is done excessively , leading to transgression .

O you who have believed , do not prohibit the good things which God has made lawful to you and do not transgress . Indeed , God does not like the mu ’ tadin ( transgressors ). [ Al-Ma ’ idah ( The Table Spread ) 5 : 87 ] O you who have believed , eat from the good things which We have provided for you and be grateful to God if it is [ indeed ] Him that you worship .

[ Al-Baqarah ( The Cow ) 2 : 172 ]

What can be understood from these verses is , God ordered us to eat good halal food and to not transgress by making what is permissible , impermissible .

Mukbang gained popularity worldwide after a famous American Youtuber uploaded a video addressing South Korean mukbang videos in 2015 .”

Transgression here can also mean that a person should not overindulge even if it is halalan toyyiban ( lawful and good ). We should also thank God for the sustenance He has provided us .

In another verse , God warned the transgressors of His wrath :

Eat from the good things with which We have provided you and do not transgress [ or oppress others ] therein , lest My anger should descend upon you . And he upon whom My anger descends has certainly fallen .

[ TaHa 20 : 81 ]

Although this verse is directed to the Children of Israel , it applies to us too because whatever has been revealed in the Qur ’ an is a reminder and lesson for mankind .

Eating is supposed to be a form of worship too , but if a person eats for the sole purpose of fulfilling their desires , there is no blessing ( barakah ) in what they eat .

Overeating also makes one lazy or incapable of performing their duties as a servant of God as well as a worker .

Prophet Muhammad ( peace and blessings be upon him ) advised us to eat in moderation :

A human being fills no worse vessel than his stomach . It is sufficient for a human being to eat a few mouthfuls to keep his spine straight . But if he must fill it , then 1 / 3 for food , 1 / 3 for water and 1 / 3 for air ( breathing ). [ Ahmad , Tirmidzi , Nasa ´ i , Ibn Majah ] A believer eats with one intestine and the disbelievers eats with seven intestines . [ Bukhari , Muslim , Ahmad ]

Extravagance and Satan

Additionally , God reminded mankind not to act extravagantly because excessiveness could lead to waste . Being wasteful are friends of the devil and exemplify ungratefulness to God , The Provider .

Children of Adam , dress well whenever you are at worship , and eat and drink [ as We have permitted ] but do not be extravagant : God does not like the musrifin ( extravagant people ).

[ Al-A ’ raf ( The Heights ) 7 : 31 ]

Indeed , the mubazzirin ( wasteful ) are brothers of the devils , and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful . [ Al-Isra ’ ( The Night Journey ) 17 : 27 ] O mankind , eat from whatever is on earth [ that is ] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan . Indeed , he is to you a clear enemy .

[ Al-Baqarah ( The Cow ) 2 : 168 ]

Binge eating mukbang is a waste

Holding on to the ‘ pure and innocent ’ definition of mukbang ( eating + broadcast ), one can argue that it is purely to achieve social connectivity with others .

However , most mukbang ( unfortunately ) evolved into having massive portions of food , binge eating , and sloppy eating .

Therefore , doing mukbang regularly will affect their health if they do not exercise periodically after consuming so much food , and they are also wasting food .

People would ask , why is it considered a waste when they do not leave any leftovers ?

It is considered waste because the human body does not require one to consume so much food to survive .

Halalan Toyyiban Mukbang ( eating + broadcast )? Why not ?

To conclude , mukbang is alright if a person eats halalan toyyiban ; which can be decoded into moderate portions , halalan toyyiban ingredients , eating with adab ( good etiquette / manners ) and not being wasteful .

If one can afford to buy ingredients to cook up a massive meal for themselves or buy a lot of food to fill their bellies , they should feed the poor instead .

The poor deserve a portion of these binge eater ’ s food because they need it more for their survival .

Rather than filling our bellies and pockets simultaneously , it would be better to use God ’ s sustenance given to us to help others .