Role Of Diet And Food In Judaism And Islam Theology (Essay Sample)

DIETARY PRACTISES AND RELIGION
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Religion and dietary systems of a community of people can be seen through a complex paradigm. For many, food can be a method of sustenance and a way to survive while for others it can be considered much more complicated. Each religion has certain associations with food and food items which can be categorized and presented in a different manner. This paper will look to divide the manner in which food is symbolized in Judaism and Islam in order to compare and contrast the treatment of food in those religions.
Dietary practices
This category considers how the food was produced or created before consumption has to be carried out. This aspect of this research will see how Judaism and Islam prepare the food to be consumed based on aspects of nutrition and commensality. In Judaism, the preparation of food which is carried out is a way to build a relationship with god. The “Kashrut” or the guideline for dietary rituals in Judaism dictates that fit, correct and proper food items can be consumed. The Jewish word “Kosher” is used in order to describe food items based on standards which have been set by the religion itself (Bergeaud-Blackler et al., 2015). Kosher has been applied to food items which permit certain food items while restricting others. These standards also include certain animals or parts of them. Restrictions on food items include flesh, organs, eggs and milk of the forbidden animals. The permission on food is also associated with the manner in which the animal is killed as well which is in accordance to Jewish law as well (Rosenblum, 2014). In precise terms, Jews are allowed to consume animals on land which have hooves and are able to chew their cud. In terms of seafood, Jews can eat anything which has fins and scales while in terms of birds, scavengers and prey are not allowed. Remaining birds like geese, chickens, ducks and turkeys are allowed for consumption.
There are also special occasions in the Torah where eating meat and dairy together has been prohibited in regards to eating a young goat in its own mother’s milk. Rabbis later also prohibited eating poultry and milk together as well. Restrictions are also placed on used of food utensils, pots and pans where milk and meat is not cooked in the same utensils. Dishes also cannot be used without washing them first before they are used in order to keep clean and pure. There is also a time restriction where a Jew has to wait a few hours after consumption of milk that meat can be consumer. Adhering to these restrictions allow the Jew to be pure and allow him to be closed to sacredness according to his religion (Brumberg-Kraus, 2002). This converts the simple act of eating into an act of worship as well.
In Islam, there is a concept of moderation which is considered to be important in context to eating and dietary plans. Islam dictates a balanced diet which is center on moderation throughout the Quran where waste is discouraged. Extravagance is seen as being part of an irresponsible person who does not follow the cornerstones of the religion. Just like Judaism, there are permissible and impermissible categories of food which is define by the religion itself. Permissible foods are called halaal foods while impermissible foods are called haram foods and include flesh of swine. In addition to that, there is the Islamic way of sacrifice where name of Allah has to be invoked when sacrifice is being carried out (Wilson and Liu, 2011). This has to be carried out even on permissible foods. The Quran lays own dietary plans by addressing three key issues which arise. The first one is to define permissible and non-permissible meat which includes swine, big and boar and also includes meat of carnivorous animals and birds of prey.
Domesticated animals with hoofs like cattle, sheep, goat etc. is permitted while birds who do not use claws to pin their food like chickens and turkeys are also allowed. Eggs and milk from permissible animals can be consumed while blood from either is not allowed to be consumed. The slaughtering of the animals also have to be carried out in a certain manner where stunned death is not allowed and cutting of the throat has to be carried out which allows the body to be drained from all its blood. The acts of preparation and consumption of food carried out between Judaism and Islam are similar. The slaughtering of the meat being carried out in a prescribed manner, the consumption of certain permissible foods is something which can be compared between these two religions. In order to carry out this research, the first aspect which has to be looked into is the fact that in Islam, permissible food must adhere to Islamic dietary laws which makes the food Halal for consumption. Similarly, Jewish dietary laws which provide guidance on permissible food are known as Kashrut or Kosher in the religion (Hanzaee & Ramezani, 2011). Both these religions provide a detailed outlook into what is allowed to be consumed in the religion and both these dietary laws have certain points of similarity and discord which needs to be taken into account. Both dietary laws have roots in Abrahamic religion but the description of both these methods is carried out differently in the prescribed texts of the religion. The Quran and Sunnah lay out the outlines to be followed in Islam which is according to the code of law of Islam while Jewish code of law is found in the Torah and is explained by the Talmud to provide any clarifications regarding this.
Concept of slaughtering
Another act which is similar between Judaism and Islam is the act of slaughtering animals in a certain manner. In Islam, slaughtering must be carried out by first invoking the name of Allah which is a symbol of thinking Allah for the sustenance which is being provided. It is also a show of modesty which makes sure that the act does not invoke sin or lead to gluttony. Islam treats the animal in respectful terms by bringing the animal to the place of sacrifice and it has to be made sure that the animal is not injured. The head of the animal has to face the Qiblah, the knife has to be sharp and it cannot be shown to the animal till the last moment (Eliasi & Johanna, 2002). The large artery of the animal is found and it is cut while making sure that the nervous system of the animal is not damaged in any way. This has to be done so that the animal does not die before all the blood has been drained out from the body. Once the blood is draining, the animal is not touched or handled until the animal has completely died. One animal is killed individually at a time and in seclusion so that the act is not watched by other animals. The consumption of blood is prohibited in Islam and due to that reason, the blood has to be drained in order to make the animal Halaal for consumption.
There are similarities between the Islam act of sacrificing known as dhabihah and shechita which is the Jewish ritual of slaughtering. It can be seen even in the roots of the words which are used to describe the slaughtering where dhabihah in Arabic is similar to the Hebrew word for sacrifice called zevah. In Islam, a Muslim should be the butcher who carries out the act of slaughtering while in Judaism, the butcher has to be Jewish in order to make the animal fit for consumption. Islam also conditions the butcher to make sure that the knife being used is non-serrated and sharp so that the animal does not have to feel the pain for a long time. Similarly, Judaism dictates that the shape of the knife should be prescribed while the knife should be free from a single nick and the method of cutting is also defined like Islam (Mason, 2006).
The similarities between Judaism and Islam can be based on the fact that these two religions have a greater attachment to the ritual of sacrifice as prescribed by Abraham or Ibrahim. These two religions give an accented respect to the act of sacrifice carried out by Abraham when he took his son Ishmael for sacrifice. In order to remember the ritual, sacrifice is carried out in Islam every Islamic year which keeps the context of sacrifice of a beloved in Islam. The prescribed method is followed in Islam as to show devotion to religion by sacrificing something beloved for Allah which substantiates the act of sacrifice and consecration that a Muslim feels towards his religion. Same can be said for Judaism which accentuates the act of Abraham by respecting the animal and its sacrifice in a certain manner.
The similarities in these two religions are based on the fact that the consumption of blood is not allowed in both Islam and Judaism. The fact that food is prepared in a certain manner is to make sure that the animal does not suffer a lot during the act of the sacrifice while also making sure that the blood from the animal is drained as much as possible. This guarantees that the meat will be fit for consumption under both religions (Regenstein et al., 2003). This similarity is not shared with Christianity as Christians have not restriction regarding consumption of blood or blood related products. Due to this, there is no special significance of slaughtering or killing of animals in any manner. In light of this, animals are allowed to execute their animals in any manner possible which still allows them to be allowed for consumption.
Scientific significance of draining the blood
The act of draining the blood is used in both these religions in terms of the slaughtering which is carried out. Other religions might use methods like using captive bolts or electrocuting the animal in order to lessen the degree of insensible pain, however, Judaism and Islam do not allow for any such measure to be carried out (Katz & Weaver, 2003). This method of not electrocuting the animal has scientific significance as both these religions do not allow ...