Imitating the kuffar with regards to foodstuffs

[Jadeed]

:salam:

I used to be a Jew. One thing I liked (about the only thing) about being a Jew was the food. There are a variety of dishes which are typical to Ashkenazi Jews- one of them is 'Cholent,' which is a kind of slow-simmered stew with meat, eggs, potatoes, and barley in a beef broth, and there are numerous other such things.

My question is, would it be imitating the kuffar if I were to make this dish, since it's a dish that is made by Jews in particular, primarily on Shabbat (however, it is not because it has a religious purpose in and of itself, but rather because it is simmered overnight so they can get around the prohibition on completing electrical circuits during Shabbat, which the rabbis they worship ruled to be work per se.)?

[Abdul1234]

:salam:

I used to be a Jew. One thing I liked (about the only thing) about being a Jew was the food. There are a variety of dishes which are typical to Ashkenazi Jews- one of them is 'Cholent,' which is a kind of slow-simmered stew with meat, eggs, potatoes, and barley in a beef broth, and there are numerous other such things.

My question is, would it be imitating the kuffar if I were to make this dish, since it's a dish that is made by Jews in particular, primarily on Shabbat (however, it is not because it has a religious purpose in and of itself, but rather because it is simmered overnight so they can get around the prohibition on completing electrical circuits during Shabbat, which the rabbis they worship ruled to be work per se.)?

Salaams brother

what does your heart tell you about doing it?

[Jadeed]

Salaams brother

what does your heart tell you about doing it?

:ws:

I do not know whether my nafs of wanting Cholent would interfere with my heart. My instinct is: it is like eating cheeseburgers. But everyone eats cheeseburgers, not just kuffar, so it may be different, because this is a dish that is primarily the dish of Jews.

So my heart says: I dunno, ask someone who knows.

[Acacia]

:salam:

I used to be a Jew. One thing I liked (about the only thing) about being a Jew was the food. There are a variety of dishes which are typical to Ashkenazi Jews- one of them is 'Cholent,' which is a kind of slow-simmered stew with meat, eggs, potatoes, and barley in a beef broth, and there are numerous other such things.

My question is, would it be imitating the kuffar if I were to make this dish, since it's a dish that is made by Jews in particular, primarily on Shabbat (however, it is not because it has a religious purpose in and of itself, but rather because it is simmered overnight so they can get around the prohibition on completing electrical circuits during Shabbat, which the rabbis they worship ruled to be work per se.)?

:ws:

Do you plan to make it ritually? I mean, do you plan to make it on the day that Jews would (Shabbat)? If so, then perhaps it would be wrong. If not... I don't see why it would be a problem. It is a cultural dish but you're not mixing culture with Islam if you aren't doing it as Jews do ("primarily for Shabbat").

May Allah (SWT) forgive me if I've erred here.

:ws:

[Hafiz Gee]

hey the jewish tradition is both religious AND ethnic

the food you eat is part of your cultural/ethnic background.

the indians never stooped eating biryani just because they became muslims, after all they are still indians. so why should a jew who converted to Islam have to stop eating jewish foods (after all he is still a jew ethnically speaking).

[Acacia]

:salam:

Yes, I agree.

The distinction I was trying to make is associating certain dishes with certain days. For instance, in Turkey, "irmik helvası" (a dessert made with semolina, milk, sugar and butter) is served when a person dies and aşure (Noah's pudding - my favorite dessert) is served on the Day of Ashura. People make it outside of those times but they've become associated with such events and sort of expected. Wouldn't associating a dish with a religious celebration or ceremony constitute a form of innovation?

:ws:

[Jadeed]

hey the jewish tradition is both religious AND ethnic

the food you eat is part of your cultural/ethnic background.

the indians never stooped eating biryani just because they became muslims, after all they are still indians. so why should a jew who converted to Islam have to stop eating jewish foods (after all he is still a jew ethnically speaking).

:salam:

:jazak: I never thought of it this way.

I had no plans of making it ritually because I do not celebrate Jewish holidays, just wanted to make a big old batch of it and eat it over the course of a week or so.

Waiting on an 'aalim of some sort still. But I'm inclining more towards 'it's ok,' now.

[Sunni_Student786]

...

the indians never stooped eating biryani just because they became muslims, after all they are still indians. ...

Just for the record, the Indians did not have Biryani in their cuisine until AFTER Islam was introduced to the subcontinent. In fact, Biryani was developed during Mughal times and it came with Persian Muslims who emigrated to the Indian Subcontinent.

[sudoku]

:salam:

I asked an aalim about the question of OP. The aalim said that as long as it's not eaten on that specific holiday then it should be fine.

[Muhammad_786]

ASA, Jadeed

I still eat these foods (jewish dishes - South Africanised versions) because it's cultural and nothing to do with religion per se.

[muslima1234]

I love Jewish food and I eat it and I am Muslim. If you have never tried latkes and matzo ball soup you are totally missing out.