This is an incident which happened to me while at a social gathering a couple of years back. My friend, Shahid, who is an Indian Muslim had invited myself and several other close friends over to his house during Hari Raya Puasa. Hari Raya Puasa, which literally means Day of Celebration, is a day where Muslims all over the world celebrate the breaking of the fasting month.
While over lunch, we were “educated” on the traditional way of eating by Muslims, that is, using our bare hands, no forks and spoons allowed. It was fun trying to scoop rice with the first three fingers of one hand, gathering them into a morsel before putting the food into our mouths. We were also told that it was Sunnah (religious way) to lick the three fingers clean after finishing our meals, instead of washing our hands straightaway.
We were all happily indulging in our food when suddenly Shahid’s mother commented why I was using my left hand to eat instead. Shahid explained that it was because I am a leftie, hence the use of my master hand to handle the food. I was quite puzzled by her comments, but it was only later that I realised that Muslims only eat with their right hand, as the left hand was considered “unclean” in their culture. We all broke up into laughter when Shahid explained that the left hand was used exclusively to clean up after defecation in Muslim culture.
His mum added that in Islamic tradition, people will be handed a book containing all their deeds in life on "judgement day". Should the book be handed onto the right hand, it means good news, but if handed onto the left, it spells bad news. Therefore, Muslims do not like to hand things with their left hand or to other people’s left hand. Upon hearing that, I immediately switched to eating with my right hand, which drew laughters once again.
Overall, I learnt a few lessons on the Muslim culture, indeed especially valuable, since Singapore is such a multi-cultural society. Learning about the ways and cultures of each other’s culture will certainly go a long way in fostering better intercultural relationships.
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5 comments:
Nice to learn from that Muslims actually eat using their right hands as I was never so observant since majorities of people are right-handed. It was an interesting event and I would say you had recognized the rules and customs of Muslim culture; and adjusted your non-verbal system (in this scenario, the changing from left to right hand to handle the food) to the social setting you were in.
An interesting theory I can perhaps share here is the communication accommodation theory. This theory believes that speakers who accommodate their speaking styles to their listeners often result in greater communication efficiency. I guess this will be applicable to future intercultural interaction.
I am aware of Muslims using the right hand to eat and left hand to handle dirty things. However, I do not know that Muslims also like to pass things using their right hands. I think I have passed things to Muslim friends using my left hand and yet they did not correct me. Perhaps they are already used to such situations and did not bother to explain to me to prevent any awkwardness. Will Shahid correct you if not for his mother’s comment? I feel that people should take the extra step to explain to others their own culture. This will be the most direct and easiest way to understand another person culture through interaction.
Hey Ho Teck,
I agree that learning more about other cultures and trying to understand the reason behind them would lead to less misunderstandings. This is especially important in such diverse countries such as Singapore and Malaysia so as not to stir up any racial discord. We must always be considerate to others. For example, it is currently the fasting month for the Muslims, so I try not to eat or drink in front of them while they are fasting as it is impolite to do so.
In Malaysia, I feel honoured to have had the chance to celebrate Deepavali, Hari Raya and Christmas with my friends from many different backgrounds. I find it heartening that despite being of a different race and religion, they still take me in with open arms to celebrate with them. The world could definitely do with more of such understanding and mutual respect for one another.
Hi Ho Teck, your post was very informative! I didn’t know about the belief regarding the receiving of the book on judgment day. That was something new that I learnt after reading your blog.
Singapore is unique in a sense that it is made up of 4 major ethnic groups, and yet all the citizens are able to live peacefully. With friendly people like Shahid and his family, it is easy to see the reasons for us why we are able to do so for the past years. It is also heartening that Shahid’s mother voiced out about the hand you were using to eat, instead of thinking that it did not matter as you would be doing so for only one meal.
Similarly, I believe that the hands-on approach is the best way to understand and learn more from other cultures. Return the kind deed, Ho Teck! Invite Shahid over to your house during Chinese New Year and teach him some Chinese cultures, and perhaps show him how to eat using chopsticks! It would be a great learning experience for your friend too!
ES2007S
Jimmy Group 2
Hi Mei Ling,
I agree that we should all seek to understand the cultures of different races. I was doing my cardiology group assignment with one of my malay friends and knowing that she was fasting, I resisted the temptation to eat in front of her as well. I think we should all be sensitive and tolerant towards other races. We may be living harmoniously in a multi-racial society, but we should not take anything for granted, given that not so long ago, there were racial tensions in the region.
Cheers
Ho Teck
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