Sufra facts for kids
.jpg)
A sufra, sofra, or sofreh (Arabic: سُفْرَة; Persian: سفره; Turkish: sofra; Georgian: სუფრა) is a special cloth or table used for serving food. It is also sometimes the name for a type of meal. This tradition is often connected to Islamicate culture.
Contents
What is a Sufra?
The word sufra can mean different things. It often refers to a cloth or mat spread on the floor where people gather to eat. It can also mean a low table or even a tray used for meals. In some cultures, the word sufra can even describe a special meal itself, especially one with religious meaning.
Where Does the Word Come From?
The word sufra comes from an old Semitic root word. This root is linked to ideas of sweeping and journeys. For example, the English word safari also comes from this root. Originally, sufra meant "food for a traveler" or "food prepared for a journey."
More Than Just a Cloth
Long ago, a sufra was often a round piece of skin or cloth. It had a string around its edge. Travelers would put food in the middle and pull the string tight to make a bag. This made it easy to carry food on a journey.
When it was time to eat, the bag could be placed on the ground. The string would be loosened, and the bag would open up. This created a clean surface to eat from. Over time, the word also started to mean a wooden or metal platter, or even a dining table.
Eating Traditions with Sufra
In Islamic tradition, it is said that the Prophet Muhammad often ate from a sufra. He would sit on the floor and eat with his right hand. Because of this, many Muslims see eating this way as a good practice.
In countries like Iran and Afghanistan, families traditionally eat on a sufra. It is a mat placed on the floor or a carpet. In Afghanistan, it is sometimes called a disterkha.
Sufra Around the World
The idea of a sufra is found in many places. In Kazakhstan, it is known as a dastarkhan. This is a tablecloth placed on a low, round table. In Pakistan, it is called a dastarkhawn. These different names show how the tradition has spread and changed.
Sufra in Religious Practices
Sometimes, a sufra refers to a special meal with religious importance. In Iran and Afghanistan, women might gather to pray and share such a meal. Among Shiite Muslims and Zoroastrians in Iran, a sufra can be a ritual meal. The sofra is also an important ritual meal for members of the Bektashi order, a group within Sufism.
Hundreds of years ago, around the 1600s, in Ṣafawid Persia (which is now Iran), there was an official job in the royal kitchen. This person was called the sufrači-bāshī. Their job was to arrange the cloth sufra on the floor for the royal meals.
Modern Uses of Sufra
The word sufra has also inspired modern projects. For example, there is a Muslim-run community food program in London, England. It was started in 2013 and helps people in need.
