A society needs different
people holding different profession so that they can contribute their various
skills to the development of their society. But if you look at Muslims they
tend to obtain popular and traditional business that give an immediate reward.
then, our society could not be developed as a progressive nation and can be
left behind anyway. thus, we should try to train our youths of various
professions and skills without further delay, so let's have a look at various
types of profession including restaurant business.
A restaurant is a business that include preparing and
serving foods and drinks to customers in return of money. Restaurants constituted another sort of eating establishment,
a new one if we define them as places where one can order a meal from a range
of choices at a range of times and eat it on the premises. Generally foods are
eaten in the premises but many restaurant also offer take-out and food delivery
service. Restaurant is much known as a place to buy a foods and drinks. Pressures
leading to the creation of the restaurant. People keep demanding foods and this
make some people to involve in this career. Based on the book ‘the invention of
restaurant’ by Rabecca L. Spang, he said that the restaurant had been made
since 1760 and revolution being made the following years.[1]
The restaurants that had begun as a health food became symbols of aristocratic
greed. However, year by year, restaurant became the place for all people. Restaurants
vary greatly in appearance and offerings, including a wide variety of the main
chef's cuisines and service models. Nowadays, restaurant have greatly influence
people for their foods. The technology is increasing year by year make
restaurant better than what we expected. Many kind of machines and other things
associated with restaurant had been created and this make the service of the
restaurant improve and satisfied the customers. In Islamic perspective,
restaurant must serve the halal one, so that, it is very important for the
owner and workers of the restaurant to make sure the food and drink is Halal.
It is because what we eat will become the part of our body. One scholar had
said that we are what we eat. What we eat mostly influence our behavior. On the
other hand, all place have a restaurant. This career or business becoming an
important for people no matter what status they are. They will buy at
restaurant when they need it.In many cultures, restaurants are subject to
inspections by health inspectors to maintain standards for public health, such
as maintaining proper hygiene and cleanliness.[2]
Restaurant is needed in society because it is the place
for people to have a food and drink. Nowadays, we can see that, everyone keep
busy working at any time and at any place especially in rural area. Restaurant
is the first place the will go during breakfast, lunch, dinner and at any time
they needed. As we can see at restaurant, many people no matter what time they
are there. For businessman, restaurant is the place for them to have a good
meeting with their client. They will choose the restaurant that more convenient
for them. The restaurant that provide good environment to have a meeting.
Besides, there are different type of restaurant such as restaurant for
enjoyment. Basically for customers that want to watch football games. They
always call this restaurant as ‘mamak’ restaurant. When there is football
match, this restaurant will provide good service for society in term of
television and other things that make the place interesting to watch that
football match. Nevertheless, they need a foods to have an energy. Without a
food they cannot do a work. When they cannot do a work, how can they generate
money? Usually, restaurant is very important for the people that do not cook at
home. So, they take a chance or have a routine to go to restaurant and buy
foods. Every place that we go, we will find a restaurant. It is just an
essential things that the place must have before have a big population. In
addition, restaurant also a place for gathering of family and people. For
family, it is good for them travel especially during holiday. During this time,
restaurant must be the first thing they will look because they need foods when
the reach a destination. Restaurant will provide foods and drinks to society
whenever they are needed.[3]
The place must be strategic and people can easily come
to the restaurant. If the place is not strategic and hard for people to find,
it is not good. How can customers come to that restaurant if the restaurant are
far from society? So, the businessman or the owner must know how to place the restaurant.
They need to examine what the society really wants. Then they will know the
demand of people and the will get profit if more customers come to their
restaurant. Arrangement is society is very important to get the attention of
people. In rural area, the restaurant is usually located near to the place that
many people are working such as people work in some company. Besides, the
restaurant must have all the facilities needed by the customers such as table,
chair, sink and etc. This facilities will give satisfaction to the customers.
This facilities is compulsory because this will lead a restaurant get the
customers. Without this facilities, the customers may feel that no used to buy
a foods only but did not have a place to eat the foods. In addition, the place
must clean. Cleanliness is very important for the restaurant. Cleanliness will
affect the condition of the foods and satisfaction of the customers. Most of
the customers will choose the restaurant that have good cleanliness because
they do not have doubt to buy the foods. Moreover, the restaurant that are
clean are always good in term of health and protect from sickness. That why
government have some authorities that will make sure the condition of
restaurant are clean and their food are halal. In Malaysia, we have Malaysia
department of Islamic development or known as JAKIM. This authority will make
sure the restaurant are meet the condition and rule before setting for society.
It will concern about halal first and then the cleanliness of the restaurant. [4]
Firstly, it will give advantages to people because it
is the place of people to buy a food and drink. People who are busy working
will need this service of restaurant. They do not have much time cooking at
home, so that, the restaurant will give the benefits for them. This will save
their time and they can do their job efficiently without thinking the problem
of foods. The just need to go to the restaurant during break and have a food
there. Customers also benefit through improved customer experience customers
can eat a quality product, in a clean environment, when they want. Secondly, it
will open job opportunities to people. Businessman that handle the restaurant
will need a worker like servicer and cooker. The two important job that
compulsory in running the restaurant. Usually people will try to get the job
from the owner. This will lead to decrease of unemployment rate in a country. This
will help the government in term of economic where there are more job available
in restaurant and unemployment rate will decrease. Most of people enjoy work in
a restaurant and many restaurant now also provide part-time job especially for students.
This is because students need money to pay cost of living. The restaurant is
the best place for them because the work are not so hard and they easy to have
a food that provided by owner to their worker. Thirdly, the benefits will go to
the owner itself because they can generate a profit. The main purpose of the
owner must gain the profit, so that, the restaurant will give the benefit to
the owner and the person that associated with the business. The income will be
distributed among them. The workers will
get the wages for their service of the restaurant. This also do not only give
the profit to the business of restaurant but everything that associated with
that will gain the profit such as fisherman who supply fish to the restaurant.
This is very important and all people get benefit for this profession. If the
profession of restaurant are not in the society, all people that get benefit
above will loss of their income and benefit. The country will face problems in
term unemployment rate and economy will decline.[5]
The impacts of restaurant in term of economy are
really become a big concern. Restaurant is one of the cause of economy
increase. The impact of our industry’s vitality extends far beyond restaurants’
walls. Restaurant sales generate money for local communities, and huge number
of employees around 1 million and translates into healthy contributions to
state and federal tax revenues. What’s more, for every money spent in
restaurants, the restaurant`s owner can generated in sales for other industries.
With restaurants on every street of our towns and cities and along vast
stretches of Malaysia’s roads and highways, restaurant industry activity has
become a huge component of the Malaysia economy. The industry’s economic health
is now a leading indicator of the nation’s economic health, and industry growth
is a significant factor in the nation’s economic outlook. When we talk about
the restaurant industry, we're referring to more than just full service and
quick service restaurants. All people get impact of this industry. Job creation
is always important, but never more so than during an economic recovery.
Restaurant have a mechanism to get people into the workforce and no industry
can provide those opportunities like restaurant can. So clearly restaurant are
the type of industry that can grow jobs and opportunities and help address employment
needs in this country. On the other hand, the restaurant can give bad impact
for people in term of the ingredient of the foods. Most of the food that the
restaurant sell are not good for health. Generally, what we know that fast food
restaurant are serve the not good foods at all. Even though there are fast and
cheap but in term of health they are low. Many researchers now believe that
these problems are partly related to diet. While they used to believe that
diseases-such as type II diabetes, obesity, heart disease, stroke, and certain
cancers, they are now generally attributing these conditions to a network of
biological dysfunction. And the food we eat is an important factor in that
dysfunction, in part because our diets lack the necessary balance of nutrients.[6]
In Islam, the foods that the Muslim allow
to eat is must halal. However the halal must follow by good. It mean that the
food is halal and good. The first thing is must follow the al-Quran and sunnah.
The good ways to prepare food is must follow the guideline of Islamic authorities
that the country have to establishes about foods. In Malaysia, we have Malaysia
Department of Islamic Development or known as JAKIM. This authorities will
supply the halal logo to all the restaurant and other things that associated
such as factory. Before the give this halal logo, the restaurant must follow
the procedure that have been given by them. JAKIM will examine what kind of
foods the restaurant prepared, how they prepare the foods and drinks, what kind
of service that they provide and other thing that related to restaurant. Next,
the good ways to prepare the foods is the cooker or servicer itself must a
Muslim. On the other hand, the ways of cooking the food is also important. One
way is steaming the food. Not only does steaming preserve flavor, aroma,
vitamins and antioxidants, it also decreases the volume of vegetables so you
can eat more. Some researchers discovered that lightly steaming greens such as
collards and broccoli increases their ability to bind to bile acids more than
if consumed raw. Besides, the cooking style like stir-frying. The intense heat
from the stovetop minimizes nutrient loss and helps maintain vegetable texture
and color. High-quality woks are great for rapid, even heating at high
temperatures, but you can also use a large, heavy, flat-bottom frying pan for
stir-frying just about anything. However, all the thing must follow the right
ways of preparing. As said above that halal food is more important followed by
the good one or clean. All restaurant`s owner need to make sure the foods that
they get and the ways that they cook the foods is right and good for customers.[7]
Food is very important thing in
Islam. Al-quran and hadith also have told us about food. From surah al-baqarah,
verse 168, Allah said O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful
and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan[8].
Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy. The
above verse that Allah ask the man that always choose clean and good food in
his suit and not follow the devil who only follow mere lust.Reason above
revelation is related to the attitude of the Children Tsagf, Bani Amir ibn
Shasha'ah, Khuza'ah and Children Madlaj. They express themselves illegal for a
variety of foods, such as beef cattle, fish, and so forth. Thus described by
Abdullah bin Abbas. Then came the verse above. Basically all of what there is in this world God created for humans
and other creatures. Therefore, what is produced in the earth, whether it be
crops and plants, livestock and a variety of food and drink, can be blessings.
And purposely God created everything, what to eat, drink, or wear.Thus, all
kinds of food and drink is permissible and lawful ruling, unless there is
evidence to ban it. Allah. having guided us to eat kosher food and good. Clean
and good words closely related to human health, because it can only halal food
but not good for a person (wellness) or vice versa. Our prophet, Muhammad
s.a.w. is concern in taking nutrious and quality food. The amongst food taken
are vegetables, seeds, fruits and milk. But it does not mean that Muhammad
s.a.w. is a vegeterian because he also ate meat but in small quantity.Muhammad
s.a.w. said:"Nothing is worse than a person who fills his stomach. It
should be enough for the son of Adam to have a few bites to satisfy his hunger.
If he wishes more, it should be: One-third for his food, one-third for his
liquids, and one-third for his breath." Narrated by Tirmidzi and Ibn Maajah.
Staying healthy is very important and the way in which one should stay healthy
is how to balanced diet and exercise. It is very important that there is
specific hadith for it is not the only one. We should always be aware of what
we put into our body because our body is amanah from Allah. We supposed to take
care of our body because Allah, our creator commands us to do.
There
are some views from western scholars about food. Nowadays many kind of food
that we find such as fast food and many kind of way to cook the foods. One of the scholar is Dr. Robert H. Lustig. He
is professor of Pediatrics at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in San
Francisco. His book is "Fat Chance: Beating the Odds against Sugar,
Processed Food, Obesity and Disease". He said nowadays human are really in
dangerous. So many sickness influence by foods. He said the definition of food
by himself like this "Letting someone loose in a garden with a bottle of
balsamic vinegar and saying, 'have at it.'" Another scholar is Michael
Pollan. Michael Pollan is an American author, journalist, activist, and
professor of journalism at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. A
2006 New York Times book review describes him as a "liberal foodie
intellectual." He said "The price of fast food simply doesn't take
account of that meal's true cost to soil, oil, public health, the public purse,
etc," Michael Pollan said. "Costs which are never charged directly to
the consumer but, indirectly and invisibly, to the taxpayer (in the form of
subsidies), the health care system (in the form of food-borne illnesses) and
obesity, and the environment (in the form of pollution). Not to mention the
welfare of the workers in the feedlot and the slaughterhouse and the welfare of
the animals themselves. Both these quotes are explanations of
what's wrong with the Western diet, the aesthetic and the socio-ecologic. Both
are right on target; both are compelling. Yet both are completely powerless to
bring about any sort of change in food policy. The assumption of food need to
regulate and followed the balanced diet.[9]
There also have more Islamic scholar that
have said about food. One of them is Syed Abul A'la Maududi. (On a discussion about Quran 5:5): “The food of the
People of the Book includes the animals slaughtered by them. The rule that ‘our
food is lawful to them and theirs lawful to us signifies that there need be no
barriers between us and the People of the Book regarding food. We may eat with
them and they with us. But this general proclamation of permission is preceded
by a reiteration of the statement: ‘All good things have been made lawful to
you.' This indicates that if the People of the Book either do not observe those
principles of cleanliness and purity which are considered obligatory by the Law
or if their food includes prohibited items, then one should abstain from eating
them. If, for instance, they either slaughter an animal without pronouncing the
name of God or if they slaughter it in the name of anyone else but God it is
not lawful for us to eat that animal. Likewise, if intoxicating drinks, the
flesh of swine, and any other prohibited thing is found on their dining table
we may not justify our partaking of such items on the ground that the persons
concerned are People of the Book. Another Islamic scholar is Sheikh Yusuf
Al-Qaradawi. He said “Since Allah did not prohibit it, the food of the Jews and
the Christians is permitted to you on the basis of the original permissibility
of things, and likewise you can share your food with them. Accordingly, you can
eat the flesh of the animals they have slaughtered or hunted, and they can eat
what you have slaughtered or hunted.” “The application of the phrase, [part of
the verse of the Quran, 5:5] ‘the food of those who were given the Scripture,'
is general and includes their meats, produce, and other foods. All of these are
halal for us except what is haram in itself, e.g., the flesh of a dead animal,
pork, and flowing blood, as these are haram regardless of whether they are
obtained from a Christian, a Jew or a Muslim. He said again “...we know that
imported meats, such as chicken and canned beef, originating with the People of
the Book are halal for us, even though the animal may have been killed by means
of electric shock or the like. As long as they consider it lawful in their
religion, it is halal for us. This is the application of the above verse from
Surah al-Maidah.” (Sheikh Qaradawi is referring to Quran 5:5).[10]
In conclusion,
eating does not have to be so complicated. In this age of ever-more elaborate
diets and conflicting health advice, people can follow the advice that good for
them. For muslim, surely they need to follow al-quran and sunnah. So, the
restaurant is play the important thing that they need to make sure the food
that they serve and sell are good for people. Even the money is important for
them, the need to put the good one is the more prioritize.. The authoritise
itself in the country need to be more responsible in order to make sure the
restaurant follow the rules and regulations. When everyone in the restaurant
follow the rule and regulation, the customers will satisfied and protected form
misleading of the restaurant. The restaurant have greatly influence people and
nowadays people are put a hope on restaurant. The restaurant give many benefits
to society and the people associated to get profit or income from that. However,
we can see some negative impacts that the restaurant bring to the society such
as unhealthy foods, foods that contain the ingredient that prohibited and also
alcohol drink. This impacts should be regulated by authoritise or the owner of
the business itself. Successful restaurants are generally not the result of
pure good luck. Success comes from hard work, common sense and strategically
planning every step of the start-up process. One measure of success of a
restaurant is the joy that it brings the owner and employees everyday. Few
activities are as exciting and challenging as making a new restaurant grow and
prosper thier business.[11]
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