Religion & Ethics

More than just a curry
The Edinburgh Central Mosque Kitchen is famous amongst locals for its excellent food. However, the goals of its employees are much loftier than simply serving great curry. They wish to forge good relations and build trust with the local community.
Eric, a regular at the kitchen says, “I really like it, it’s kind of multicultural. It makes it interesting, a bit more exotic.” That is one of the core ideas behind the kitchen. Creating a multicultural atmosphere lends itself to an open and honest relationship with the community, something that the staff at the kitchen are very aware of the need for.

Shafqet, one of the senior members of the kitchen says “Because of 9/11, that’s when the awareness that we actually had to open our eyes and interact with the community a lot more, to let people see what’s actually going on.” The image that the kitchen is trying to portray is one of openness and fairness to everyone regardless of faith, nationality or culture. This is also one of the core messages of Islam itself. Yet there is no sense of preaching here; respect is given to all religions equally.The people at the kitchen want to help prevent the stereotyping of Islam that can occur by being as open as possible. Anyone can go to the kitchen and indeed anyone can visit inside the Mosque itself. Currently, there is an Islamic exhibition which is intended to help educate people about Islam and through this help create a better understanding between peoples and faiths.
The kitchen has had continued success amongst the people of Edinburgh and its many visitors. However, the good-natured and generous spirit that exists at the kitchen does not end there. There are a number of charities that the kitchen supports such as a girls' orphanage and a free medical unit, which treats up to 60 patients a day. They receive no outside funding whatsoever and do not promote their endeavours to the public or the customers. “What we do we do from our heart and we don't do it for recognition” This seems typical of the philosophy surrounding the establishment.
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One thing that can be said without hesitation is that the kitchen has integrated well into the Edinburgh community and culture. The hundreds of people that pour through the kitchen’s doors every week demonstrates this. The food may be excellent but it is the kitchen’s ability to warm the heart and souls of the Edinburgh people that has made it a true success.