Maugham And Shaikh Saadi On Dietary Etiquette

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 9 April 2024 In Islamic Countries Like Iran And Turkey, Serving Food And Partaking Of It Is Ritualistic Like Serving Tea In Japanese Culture. Arabs Believe That Eating And Light-Hearted Bantering Should Go Hand In Hand But Serious Discussions Must Be Avoided. ------ "At a dinner party one should eat wisely but not too well, and talk well but not too wisely." William Somerset Maugham "Talk a little but observe more, finish your meal before you belch." Shaikh Saadi, Gulistan Both the quotes are all about having balance when it comes to dinner party etiquette and when one's eating with others. Maugham and Saadi exhort us to enjoy the meal that has been served, but not to overindulge. It is also important to hold up one’s end of the conversation by contributing interesting and thoughtful ideas, but also to be mindful not to talk too much and dominate the conversation. To make sure we adhere to these quotes, it is important to be mindful and savour the moment of good food and good company. Food may be a serious business, it must never be accompanied by anything serious. That's why, religion and politics are always avoided on the dining table because both the subjects invariably degenerate into something ugly, awkward and embarrassing. Once Dara Shikoh invited a few Brahmin scholars from Kashi and while eating with them, those Pandits started comparing food with Brahma-Gyaan. Though always enthusiastic about such profound and recondite discussions, prince Dara Shikoh avoided philosophy during eating and famously said in Sanskrit: Darshan Varjyate Athapi Bhojanam-Kaamam (Avoid philosophy during eating and love-making: Dastar Aur Bistar Pe Falsafe Se Parhez Keejiye). A man is known by the way he eats is an old Scottish proverb. It applies to a woman as well. The way you eat shows your pedigree. Food is a part of culture if not culture itself. "Dastar-Khvaan Pe Insaan Ki Parvarish Ka Suraagh Milta Hai" (One's upbringing becomes obvious on the dining table) is a famous Urdu saying. In Islamic countries like Iran and Turkey, serving food and partaking of it is ritualistic like serving tea in Japanese culture. Arabs believe that eating and light-hearted bantering should go hand in hand but serious discussions must be avoided. Now modern findings in medical science have also confirmed that serious discussions during eating may cause indigestion and leave a bitter taste in the mouth, to use an idiom. Nowadays, eating and drinking gel well and people after gulping down a few glasses of bitter ale, start talking uncontrollably. In both the quotes on dietary etiquette, one thing is clear that one should be a gourmet and not a gourmand. While the former is a connoisseur of food, the latter is a glutton. One should be an observer and refrain from talking too much. This shouldn't be practised during eating only but in all situations and circumstances of life. An observer is a silent spectator who is a witness to the cavalcade of time. He doesn't talk, He observes. "Saahil Pe Baith Ke Lahron Ko Dekhte Hain / Saakit Khade Hum Door Se Chehron Ko Dekhte Hain" (Sitting on the shore, I look at the waves/ Standing silent and alone, I observe people from a distance). An uncontrollable itch to talk and spread verbal dysentery should be eschewed at any cost. Life is not perpetually serious and sombre. Enjoy it without being too serious and wise. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/maugham-shaikh-saadi-dietary-etiquette/d/132107 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism