Is It Sinful To Criticize Food?

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question

I know it is from the sunna not to criticize food.

But is it sinful to criticize food, like if someone said this burger doesn’t taste nice?

Answer

I hope you’re doing well, insha’Allah.

It isn’t sinful to criticize food, but it is contrary to the sunna of the Messenger of Allah (peace & blessings be upon him) and thus disliked.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) simply remained silent if he didn’t like some food. [Bajuri/Tirmidhi, Hashiyat al-Shama’il]

In general, the believer should see food—and all matters—as a blessing from Allah. We should appreciate food; and feel gratitude for this life-sustaining gift. Gratitude brings contentment. [Khadimi/Birgivi, al-Bariqa al-Mahmudiyya Sharh al-Tariqa al-Muhammadiyya]

Criticism can be an expression of ingratitude or heedlessness, and it is thus good to wean oneself off—unless there is a clear purpose or benefit in the criticism. [ibid.]

See also:
What Are Some of the Sunnahs of Eating?

And Allah is the giver of success and facilitation.

[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani spent ten years studying with some of the leading scholars of recent times, first in Damascus, and then in Amman, Jordan. His teachers include the foremost theologian of recent times in Damascus, the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas (may Allah have mercy on him), as well as his student Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi, one of the leading Hanafi fuqaha of the present age. He returned to Canada in 2007, where he founded SeekersGuidance in order to meet the urgent need to spread Islamic knowledge–both online and on the ground–in a reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible manner. He is the author of: Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School (White Thread Press, 2004.) Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center.