The food of Paradise

By: Ibn Majid

Author
 Ibn Majid - commonly known as Shihab al-
Din Ahmad al-Naidi

 He is known to be one of the greatest and

most illustrious Arab navigators of all times.

 He was born in Julfar (today’s Ras Al

Khaimah, United Arab Emirates) in the early
1430s and became renowned during the last
half of that century.  
 This city makes up one of the seven
emirates of the United Arab Emirates, but at
that time it was classified as the coast of
Oman.

 He was raised with a family famous for

seafaring; at the age of 17 he was able to
navigate ships.
 first Arab seaman.

 He became famous in the West as the

navigator who helped Vasco da Gama
find his way from Africa to India;
Characters:
 Mullah Ibrahim
 Muslim students

Settings:
 City of Baghdad
riverbank
Do you believe in God?
 Doyou ask Him if Why we are
suffering ? If why the world
seems so unfair for you?
Conflict
 When Mullah questioned the goodness of
Allah and that why a holy man like him must
toil so hard teaching a pack of blockheads,
when others who have earned nothing
through pious work eat sumptuously every
day


(Man vs. Himself)

THE FOOD OF PARADISE
Background of the Literary Piece:


The Food of Paradise is made by Ibn Amjed,

one of the most influential writers in the field
of Arabian Literature. The story is considered
as one of the most important masterpieces
made. It tackles about the story of hope and
faith in which deals with the divinity and
religious beliefs towards Allah. This may be
because of the culture on the Arabic lands
whereas Allah is considered a great figure
towards them
 They have high respects on him and, thus,
relating many stories that can be associated
by his majesticness. It teaches also about
conduct and how it the beliefs of the Moslem
religion can be associated with each other. It
is an evident fact because in the short story it
mentions one of the teachings in the Qur’an
wherein it states this passage:
 “O Compassionate One, isn’t this unjust?
Why should Thy servant be burdened like an
ass in the marketplace, which carries two
panniers both filled to the top and stumbles
at every blow of the driver’s stick? Isn’t it
promised in the Koran, Allah will not anyone
starve?”
Reflection:
   It tells us a lesson that we must be
contented and thankful of what God
gives
us. We should not be lazy instead we
must work hard so that God will give
us what we deserve.
 The story serves as a mind opener in the way
that it tells us hope and faith towards our
God. We must always put our trust to our
Almighty God because when everything is at
lost, God is the only one we can cling on.
Whatever happens, it happens for a purpose.
He will surely never leave us because He
unconditionally love us. We must give thanks
to all the blessings we received and pray for
the guidance in the path we are taking.
 ACTIVITY
Parts of the Plot
Theme:
Contentment
Do good works
Faith toward God
Hope
Trust
Moral:
 The story is more on a religious approach.

In our lives, we can’t avoid to feel sometimes that the

world is unfair but we should not question our one
and only creator. It is better to do good works, and
just pray to God that He will guide us in every way and
be more thankful than ever. And for all the things that
happened, happens and would happen in our lives
always remember that God has always a purpose.