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Islamic Recipes for Peace

Special to the Sentinel

Katherine O' Connell

Tracking the culinary migration patterns of food is a primer on the history of religions. Knowing this history gives us a unique lens to view the past, present and perhaps even the future of world history. It certainly helps us to understand current events more deeply.

Case in point: How about a little religion quiz?

Which religion is the fastest growing in the world?

If you said Islam, you are right, and that is one reason for us to learn more about the faith tradition that has over 1.2 billion followers worldwide 6 million in the United States alone.

How did a faith which had its inception in the Middle East in the 7th century spread all over the world?

If we follow the trade routes that deliver the food, herbs and spices, we also follow the well-trodden pathway of the spread of belief, which also deposited foundational concepts we still depend on to keep things running today. To name a just a few:

Mathematical notation, Arabic numerals, weights and measures to make sure merchants in bazaars were dealing fairly with their customers.

The concept of zero traveled through Arab traders from India to the western world and changed our mathematical notation system.

Medicine and philosophy.

In 830 C.E. Caliph Al-Mamun created the House of Wisdom and translated major classic works in the area of philosophy and medicine, including works by Aristotle and Plato, thereby preserving that knowledge during a turbulent period in European history

The great Persian philosopher and medical doctor Avicenna penned medical treatises that greatly influence Roger Bacon, Albert the Great and Thomas Aquinas

It is noteworthy that many of the great Jewish philosophers, like Maimonides, did most of their philosophical writing in Arabic.

Culinary, medical and gastronomic arts

Trade with China and India produced food and herbal exchange for both cultures. Even the Crusades, a travesty lasting in excess of three centuries, created some cultural and culinary exchange between Europe and the Middle East.

Islamic dietary practices

It is important to remember that only 20 percent of Muslims live in the Middle East, so there is a huge variation in foods and recipes in Islamic culture. One thing that unifies Muslims, however, are their dietary practices. However, it is important to remember that there are different interpretations of the Qur'an so I am only giving broad, general guidelines here.

Muslims follow dietary laws that are similar to Jewish kosher regulations. Swine and pork products, as well as meat not properly slaughtered or slaughtered in any name other than Allah, are Haram or prohibited.

Carnivorous animals and birds of prey are also Haram, as are pig, dog, donkey, carnivores, monkeys, cats, lions, frogs, crocodiles, turtles, worms, flies, cockroaches, owls and eagles.

Fasting is important because as a way to earn the approval of Allah, wipe out sins and understand the suffering of the poor.

The third pillar or religious obligation of Islam, fasting has many special benefits, the most important of which is learning self-control. Without the preoccupation with satisfying bodily appetites during the daylight hours of fasting, attention is given to one s spiritual nature.

Ramadan is a special month of the year for Muslims throughout the world. It is a time for inner reflection, devotion to God, and self-control a kind of tune-up for a spiritual life.

This year Ramadan is roughly from Nov. 17 to Dec. 14, and Muslims are encouraged to eat only to two-thirds of capacity. Ramadan is also a time of intensive worship, reading of the Qur'an, giving charity, purifying one s behavior and doing good deeds.

Muslims say this prayer in Ramadan after having a light meal before the sunrise: "I intend to fast today for the sake of God. Allah, o Allah, make it easy for me and accept it from me."

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "For the person who is fasting, there are two moments of happiness and rejoicing; when he breaks his fast and when he meets his Lord."

people about Islamic culture. We would love to hear from anyone who I leave you today with a great recipe and a Muslim prayer for peace.

AFGHAN LAMB WITH SPINACH

2½ lb. lamb stew meat preferably leg
¤ cup olive oil
¾ lb. onions, diced lg.
4 tsp. chopped garlic
2 tsp. turmeric
¼ tsp. nutmeg
¼ tsp. ground cardamom
1 tsp. crushed red pepper or to taste
½ tsp. cinnamon
1 32 oz. can tomatoes, drain and chop
1 cup rich brown veal stock or 1 cup rich beef stock
¤ lb. fresh spinach, wash and drain
½ cup yogurt
1 tbsp. grated lemon peel
Salt to taste
¼ cup pine nuts, roasted at 350 F. for about 3 minutes

Sear lamb in the olive oil in a cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven. Add the onions; sauté them for 2 minutes; then add the garlic and sauté it for 1 minute.

Put in the turmeric, nutmeg, cardamom, crushed red pepper and cinnamon, and sauté the mixture for 1 to 2 minutes more, being careful not to burn the onions or garlic.

Add the tomatoes and veal stock and stir. Cover the dish and bake at 350 F. for about 1 hour, until the meat is tender and begins to break up.

Remove the dish from the oven and add the spinach, stirring until the spinach is wilted and blended in. Allow the stew to cool slightly.

Add the yogurt, lemon peel and salt to taste. Sprinkle with roasted pine nuts.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings. Serve over rice pilaf.

A Muslim Prayer For Peace:

"In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful. Praise be to the Lord of the Universe who has created us and made us into tribes and nations, that we may know each other, not that we may despise each other. If the enemy incline towards peace, do thou also incline towards peace, and trust in God, for the Lord is the one that heareth and knoweth all things. And the servants of God, Most Gracious are those who walk on the Earth in humility, and when we address them, we say Peace. "

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