General Articles, - The secret knowledge that Bediuzzaman Said Nursi revealed about our century

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Until being called to the mercy of Allah in 1960, Bediüzzaman Said Nursi, the mujaddid of the 13th Islamic century, spent his entire life calling on people to believe in Allah, and to live by the moral values of the Qur’an. He suffered much in that cause, but he was always content with the life he led and faced all the difficulties he encountered with great submission, fortitude, faith and joy. His Risale-i Nur Collection, a commentary on the Qur’an, is full of much wise teaching that clearly reveals his joyous love of Allah, his deep faith, and his devotion to His religion.
Bediüzzaman is a scholar who, in addition to having powerful faith, also possessed secret knowledge revealed to him by Almighty Allah. Many of the reports in question have come to pass in our own time.
Bediüzzaman Said Nursi Described How the Way of the Dajjal Would Increase Its Influence in the 40-50 Years after Him, and How the Persecution and Oppression of Muslims Would Intensify
“At this time, a man’s one sin does not remain one sin, but sometimes grows and spreads and becomes a hundred. (...) IN THIS TIME, AND PARTICULARLY 40-50 YEARS ON, evil and wickedness will not remain on the perpetrator; THE RIGHTS OF PERHAPS MILLIONS OF MUSLIMS WILL BE VIOLATED. MANY EXAMPLES WILL BE SEEN IN 40-50 YEARS’ TIME.” (“Old Said” Period Writings, Damascus Sermon, p. 350-1)
In that particular sermon, Bediüzzaman made highly important statements about the state of the Islamic world 40-50 years after him. Calculating 40-50 years after the Master being called to the mercy of Allah in 1960, this indicates the dates:
1960+40 =2000
1960+50 =2010.
Indeed, in line with the dates clearly and miraculously revealed by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi, the influence of the way of the dajjal has increased in the 2000s.
Since the early 2000s, the Islamic world has been under the effect of serious problems such as conflict, anarchy, terror and the slaughter of the innocent, that show the way of the dajjal is at work.
Muslim countries, especially Afghanistan and Iraq, have been invaded, and tyrannical despots have inflicted terrible cruelty in many Islamic countries.
His Foretelling of the Events of 1971
On the basis of abjad calculations of verses from the Qur’an, Bediüzzaman foretold events that took place in 1971, 20 years beforehand, and these have all come to pass to the letter.
Abjad calculation of the reference in verse 3 of Surat al-Falaq to “the darkness when it gathers” gives a date of 1971. Bediüzzaman Said Nursi refers to 1971 in the following passage:
“If they are counted together, they make 1971, and give news of some ghastly evil at that date. If the crops of the seeds of the present are not rectified, the blows will certainly be terrible.” (The Rays / The Fruits of Belief - Eleventh Topic - p.289)
In 1971, Turkey came to the brink of a military coup, a memorandum was issued and these events had a huge impact on the country’s social and political history. There followed a period of anarchy, fear and terror.
Bediüzzaman Said Nursi wrote his Rays treatise between 1936 and 1949. Therefore, the Master foretold social events that would take place in 1971, about 30 years beforehand, and everything he said came to pass.
His Foretelling the Formation of the European Union and the Glad Tidings of the Subsequent Reign of Islamic Moral Values
In his “Münazarat,” (Disputations) written in 1911, Bediüzzaman foretold the establishment of the European Union, the foundations of which would only be laid 46 years later:
“At that time Old Said said: ‘THE OTTOMAN GOVERNMENT IS PREGNANT WITH EUROPE. IT WILL GIVE BIRTH TO A GOVERNMENT LIKE EUROPE. And Europe is pregnant with Islam; and it will give birth to an Islamic state,’ he said this to Sheikh Bahid. That learned individual said, ‘I corroborate that.’” (Münazarat, p. 147)
In foretelling the European Union, Bediüzzaman also foretold the reign of Islamic moral values in the End Times:
“AND EUROPE IS PREGNANT WITH ISLAM; AND IT WILL GIVE BIRTH TO AN ISLAMIC STATE.” (Münazarat, p. 147)
He Knew that Communism Would Collapse
Another of Bediüzzaman’s predictions concerns the collapse of communism and the USSR, nearly 80 years after his own day. Said Nursi foretold this event, that nobody could even have imagined so long beforehand, to a Russian soldier:
"Three lights will be revealed one after another in the Islamic world of Asia. Three shadows from your side on top of each other will be revealed. THE DESPOTIC CURTAIN WILL BE TORN AND PUCKERED, AND I WILL COME AND BUILD MY SCHOOL HERE."
The Russian soldier said:
"I am amazed at your optimism"
Bediüzzaman replied:
"And I am amazed by your thinking. Do you really think this winter can last? Every winter has a spring, and every night a dawn." (The Unknown Aspects of Bediüzzaman Said Nursi, p. 144, Nesil Yayınevi)
Bediüzzaman Knew Beforehand the Date of His Death and that His Grave Would Remain Secret
In his poem Eddai (The Supplicant), written in 1920, Bediüzzaman Said Nursi described in detail the date of his death, and how his grave would be demolished shortly afterward. The abjad value of the name of the poem, “Eddai,” is 86, Bediüzzaman’s age at death.
“My demolished grave in which is heaped up seventy-nine dead Said's with his sins and sorrows.”
The term “seventy-nine dead” refers to the year Hijri 1379. The Master died in that year.
“The eightieth is a gravestone to a grave;” As described in these words, the Master’s grave was destroyed shortly after his death, in Hijri 1380, and his remains were transferred elsewhere.
The Master wrote the Eddai between 1918 and 1920. In other words, by Allah’s leave and mercy, he revealed the time of his death 40 years beforehand.
In addition, on page 186 of his Barla Addendum a letter by his student Hafi Ali says, “... the servant of the Qur’an of the 14th century served the Qur’an directly and without exception from the age of nine to sixty...” The Master was 60 when that letter was written. And above the word “sixty” the Master wrote the words, “eighty-six” in his own handwriting. He thus predicted, 26 years before the event, that he would live and serve the Qur’an until the age of EIGHTY-SIX.
References to the Years 1980-1990 from Bediüzzaman Said Nursi
In his famous sermon at the Umayyad Mosque in 1911, Bediüzzaman provided important dates for the appearance of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) and the period when he would be active:
IN [13]71, THE SUN BEGAN TO RISE (al-Fajr as-Sadiq) OR WILL BEGIN TO RISE. EVEN IF THIS IS ONLY THE INITIAL REDNESS IN THE HORIZON (al-Fajr al-Kazib), IN 30-40 YEARS AL-FAJR AS-SADIQ WILL APPEAR. (The Damascus Sermon, p. 23)
Said Nursi stressed the time 30 and 40 years after the year Hijri 1371.
1371 + 30 = 1401 = 1980, the time of the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)
1371+ 40 =1411 = 1990
Thirty years after Hijri 1371 equates to Hijri 1400, or 1980 AD, the date given by our Prophet (pbuh) for the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh). The 1990s are the years when Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) is active.
Bediüzzaman’s References to the Year 2001
In the next part of his Damascus Sermon, Bediüzzaman refers to the 2000s, the period 50 years, or half a century, after Hijri 1371.
“... He sent to the eight fronts of those eight foes. He has now begun to repulse them, INSHA’ALLAH, HE WILL SMASH THEM IN HALF A CENTURY’S TIME.” (Damascus Sermon, p. 25)
Hijri 1371 +50 = Hijri 1421, or 2001 AD
The 2000s are a very important time, when Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will intellectually silence the atheist ideological system by virtue of the means provided by science, scholarship and civilization.
Bediüzzaman Said Nursi Described the Internet Years Beforehand
In his Words, written in 1929, Bediüzzaman Said Nursi referred to the Internet, which only came into use in the 1980s.
… in the tiny amount air expended with the word HE, the innumerable different exchanges, centers, receivers and transmitters of all the telephones, telegraphs and radios in the world so that each could perform those innumerable acts at the same time… (The Words / Thirteenth Word - Second Station - p.174
In this passage, Bediüzzaman speaks of an advanced technology that will perform all the functions of technological equipment such as the wireless, telephone, telegraph and radio. It is quite clear that in this extract, Bediüzzaman is referring to the Internet, which only began being used 50 years after his own day.
Bediüzzaman Foretold the Coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) in Hijri 1400, a Century after His Own Day
In all his statements made at different times, Bediüzzaman referred to the Hijri 1400s as the time of the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh). In another passage, Bediüzzaman states that Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will appear 1400 years after the Age of Bliss:
“[THEY] SUPPOSED A FACT THAT WOULD OCCUR IN THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD ONE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED YEARS LATER TO BE CLOSE TO THEIR CENTURY …” (The Words, The Twenty-fourth Word: Third Branch, Eight Principle, p. 318)
As Bediüzzaman says, “1400 years after the time of the Companions” equates to the beginning of the Hijri 1400s, or 1979-1980 AD.
In his sermon preached to 10,000 people at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus in 1327, Bediüzzaman made references to the future of the Islamic world after Hijri 1371. He noted the time of the struggle of the awaited Mahdi by giving various dates in the End Times. Bediüzzaman provides the following dates for Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) starting his work and intellectually defeating the atheist mindset:
"The truths in the Damascus Sermon regarding the fate of the Islamic world after 1371... may be not now but 30-40 years later, in order to fully equip science and knowledge acquired through arts, science and skills, the goodness of civilization and those three forces, and to overcome the nine obstacles, He sent inclination for investigating the truth, moderation and love for human beings to the fronts of those nine foes. By Allah's Will, He will demolish them after half a century. (The Damascus Sermon, p. 25)
In this address in Damascus, he indicates events that will take place after Hijri 1371 and states that Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will commence work 30-40 years after 1371. That date equates to Hijri 1401-1411, or 1980-1990 AD.
In another part of the same address, Bediüzzaman says that Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will intellectually silence the atheist ideological system by using the means afforded by science, knowledge and civilization. He gives the date for that intellectual superiority as half a century after 1371. That means Hijri 1421, or 2001 AD.
Another statement by Bediüzzaman regarding the End Times reads:
IN [13]71, THE SUN BEGAN TO RISE (al-Fajr as-Sadiq) OR WILL BEGIN TO RISE. EVEN IF THIS IS ONLY THE INITIAL REDNESS IN THE HORIZON (al-Fajr al-Kazib), IN 30-40 YEARS AL-FAJR AS-SADIQ WILL APPEAR. (The Damascus Sermon, p. 23)
The years when the true dawn (al-Fajr as-Sadiq) will appear, according to Bediüzzaman, are:
1371 + 30 = 1401 = 1981
1371 + 40 = 1411 = 1991
According to this analysis by Bediüzzaman, atheism and the materialist philosophy, the ideas that represent falsehood against the Truth, will begin falling apart in 1981-1991 and will be completely silenced and ideologically dispersed in 2001. (Allah knows the truth)
Another passage from Bediüzzaman Said Nursi about the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) reads:
There are such intellectual trends at that time that even if that person WHO IS TRULY AWAITED AND WILL COME IN A CENTURY’S TIME comes at that time... (Kastamonu Addendum, p. 57)
Bediüzzaman Said Nursi is referring to Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) in the words "that person who is truly awaited and will come in a century’s time," and emphasizing that he had not yet appeared in his own day. In addition, he says that he is awaited by Muslims and will come one century after his own day. Bediüzzaman lived in the Hijri 1300s. So the century after his, the Hijri 1400s, is when Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will appear.
All this information goes to show that Bediüzzaman was a great scholar and a blessed individual. He was inspired by Allah to foretell many things that have taken place in our own day. And as he says in his works, by Allah’s leave, Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will appear in this century, the “Spring of Islam,” or Islamic Union, will come about and the moral values of Islam will prevail in the world.
Bediüzzaman Said Nursi won the love of thousands of Muslims through his high virtue and sincere work. Everyone who knew him was amazed by his sincerity and friendship that reflected the warmth of religious moral values, and harbored a great and sincere love for him in their hearts. Although many years have passed since his demise, he is still remembered with love by those who knew him or who never knew him but have read even a single book by him.
The Significant Contribution of the Risale–i Nur to the Islamic World
Bediüzzaman Said Nursi preached the existence of Allah and the moral values of the Qur’an with great steadfastness over the years. His written and spoken preaching was instrumental in many formerly heedless people surrendering themselves to Allah, to acquiring a deeper faith and deciding to live in a manner that is pleasing to Him.
He continued with this holy duty even after his death though his Risale-i Nur. That work is still continuing today .
Bediüzzaman concentrated the essence of the Qur’an in his soul, had the insight to see the truth and fine details of events, and discussed everything that he knew in his own self, and that he thought people would need, in the wisest and most sincere language in his works. Every line and paragraph of the Risale-i Nur should therefore be reflected upon at length. These are works that people must see the wisdom of and draw lessons from. Indeed, everyone reading them with a sincere heart can easily find the answers to any erroneous ideas they may have and matters they are ignorant of through these works. In Bediüzzaman’s own words, the Risale-i Nur “swiftly heals people who are spiritually wounded and looking for the truth.”

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Islamic Marriage Articles, - 30 Gift Ideas for a Muslim Woman

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Can't decide what to get your wife for Eid, or your anniversary, or her birthday?
Why is gift-giving so hard for men? Maybe it's a part of the mystery that women represent to us. We don't always understand how they think, or what moves them.
When it comes to gift-giving, at least, here's a big hint for you: listen.
Are you waiting for the hint? No, thatwasthe hint.Listen.
Women will tell you what they want, if you pay attention. Next time you're passing a shop window and she says, "Oh, look at those shoes, those are lovely," make a note of it. Next time you're watching a travel show and she says, "Wouldn't it wonderful to see Niagara Falls someday?", pay attention. Women drop hints like this all the time. And when I say make a note of it, I mean literally. Keep a small notebook in a private place, and every time she drops a little hint, write it down. That way you'll never be short of gift ideas.
If youre the average Ahmed who can't be bothered with all that, and now you find yourself in a bind, here are some gift ideas that most women would love. I'll start off with the ones that cost nothign at all (or very little), and move on to ideas that will require you to break out the wallet:
1.A picnic. Plan it well, with good food, a comfortable blanket, and some books or games to pass the time as you relax in the shade.
2.Make a card. Don't just buy a Hallmark card. Make your own, draw a flower on it, and write something loving and heartfelt. It will only take you a couple of hours, no longer than it would to shop for something, and she will keep it forever, I guarantee it.
3.Take your wife someplace that has meaning for the two of you, like the first place you met, or the first house you lived in. Alternatively, take her to her childhood home or playground and let her share with you her reminiscences and memories.
4.Write her a poem. Take your time and try to write something sincere and personal.
5.Bake your wife a batch of chocolate chip cookies. This is a much nicer than just buying chocolate, and is an especially sweet gesture if you don't know much about cooking and have to work at it. Just make sure the cookies are edible!
6.Do you know how to cook? Cook her dinner, or bake a pie or cake, or some special sweet from your culture.
7.A nice dress or skirt, hijab scarf, a classy overcoat or jacket. Shukr Onlinehas some beautiful clothing, like this linen tunic suit in the photo.
8.Take her shoe shopping. Women always love shoes! And I don't mean sneakers, but dress shoes. Women are notoriously choosy about their shoes, however, so don't try to pick out a pair on your own unless you know your wife's tastes and size very well.
9.A new purse or handbag. This is a rather personal choice for a woman, so make sure you retain the receipt so she can exchange it for something more to her liking.
10.A nice belt. Some women like belts and handbags even more than clothing, and love to have belts in various colors to complement their outfits.
11.Jewelry. It doesn't have to be terribly expensive. I once got my wife (ex-wife now) a turquoise necklace for $100 or so. Oh yes, she loved it (the divorce was over something else entirely, lol). I recently read an article on a stone called tanzanite. It's beautiful, natural, and not too pricey.
12.A new Quran with a wooden Quran stand, and handmade dhikr prayer beads for tasbeeha.
13.An Islamic artwork of some kind. I don't mean a framed poster of the Ka'bah (nothing wrong with that, I have one on my own wall, but it doesn't have that personal touch). I'm thinking more on the lines of a hand-painted canvas, calligraphy, engraved copperplate, engraved brass lamp, a mother-of-pearl plate or Islamic silver plate, etc. These can be hard to find in your locality but can sometimes be ordered online. The beautiful painting above depicts an old Arab home. It was painted by Abdallah Masad and is available at ArabArtGallery.com.
14.A personalized photo locket. This would be a small metal locket on a chain, perhaps in a heart shape, with a personalized engraving on the outside, and a small photo inside.
15.Dinner at a nice restaurant. Someplace you would not go every day. It's always good to support Muslim-owned restaurants and Muslim businesses in general, if you have any in your area.
16.A beautiful flower vase, with fresh flowers in it.
17.A potted plant. Not something ordinary in a plastic pot, but something unusual like a bonsai, or a beautiful orchid, in an attractive ceramic planter.
18.A decorative photo frame with a photo of the two of you.
19.Is she a collector? If there's any type of art or craft that she likes or collects, get her one. Does she collect coins, stamps, glass figurines, home decorations with chickens on them (I'm not making that up)? Get her one.
20.A weekend trip somewhere. Even if you're not ready to go right now, make the reservations or by the tickets and let her know.
21.A new watch.
22.A pair of women's designer sunglasses.
23.If she likes gadgets, how about a new mobile phone, a Bluetooth mobile phone earpiece, a slim digital camera to fit in her purse, or even a laptop computer?
24.If she's into fitness, how about a new yoga mat, a bicycle, hiking shoes, tennis racket, etc? But only if she's already into it! Otherwise she'll take it as a hint that she's overweight :-)
25.If she's a working woman, how about a new briefcase? This tells her that you value and respect her work.
26.A set of natural bath products like soap, shampoo, bubble bath. Please try to buy cruelty-free products (not tested on animals).
27.Perfume oils. It helps if you know what she likes. If you don't, check what she's already got. Smell them and get to know the scents so you can pick something similar. But honestly, every husband should know his wife's favorite perfume.
28.A tea set, meaning tea pot, tea cups, and a collection of herbal teas.
29.A scented massage oil along with three handmade coupons saying, "Good for one massage on demand from your loving husband."
30.A gourmet basket with some of her favorite food treats, such as chocolates, cheeses, strawberries, or whatever you know to be her favorite tastes.
31.An attractive or artsy candle set, the kind they have in gift shops.
32.A subscription to a magazine for Muslim women, such as Aziza Magazine.
33.I'm hesitant to suggest this one because some women take it the wrong way or think it's unromantic, but something for the kitchen. A new kitchen appliance like a top-quality food processor, a set of quality cookware, etc. This is best for a woman who enjoys cooking.
34.In the same vein as #34, a set of Egyptian cotton towels for the bathrooms. These are wonderfully soft, but again it might be perceived as unromantic, so watch out. Caveat emptor!
35.An iPod that you have pre-loaded with Quran recitation by her favorite reciter, some of her favorite nasheeds, some good radio shows, etc. This is a wonderful gift for a woman who commutes, or who spends time every day on a treadmill, or even just to listen to while working or doing chores. This gift will take some money and some time to put together, but will give her hours of pleasure.
What NOT to get a Muslim woman as a gift:
1.Anything for cleaning the house, such as a vacuum cleaner, broom, mop, etc. This is like telling her that you see her only as a maid. Those things should be part of the normal household expenses, not gifts.
2.Groceries. True, if you don't normally do it then the gesture is nice, but it's too prosaic.
3.A sexy nightie. Not that this is un-Islamic, but it just seems a little tacky to me. It's like it's more for you than for her, if you get my meaning.
4.Anything that is really about you more than her, like a CD of your favorite band, a game box, a flat screen TV, etc. If you think that you might end up using it more than her, then chuck it and keep looking.
5.A "cool Muslim star and crescent cigarette lighter". Yes, I actually saw this on a website listed under "Muslim gifts."
Remember, pay attention and listen, and you'll never be short of gift ideas in the future.

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Islamic Marriage Articles, - 11 Food Tips for Your Wedding

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Food is the key element of almost any party, whether it's a wedding or any other social occasion.
For Muslim weddings, it is important to remember that a Walima is Sunnah, and food is normally served on this happy occasion. There are a couple of things to consider here:
1. Start planning well in advance
You may think food is something that should only take a couple of days or weeks to plan. Not so.
You will need to book catering services or make arrangements for food at least a couple of months in advance if you want things to work out in an efficient and organized way. There are a lot of details involved, so don't wait until the last minute to do this!
2. Write down all the things involved in food preparation
This includes cooking the food, getting waiters and waitresses to serve the food, deciding what kind of menu you want, how you want the food to look, etc.
Write down all of the tasks involved so you can get a clear picture of exactly what needs to be done.
3. Select a wedding food committee
This committee is responsible for taking care of all food arrangements for the wedding. It must work in consultation with you. You will make the main decisions, but they will take care of the details including booking caterers, getting servers, etc. Get a friend with experience in this field to be in charge of this committee. Make sure to give them a written list of things to do.
A note of warning though: make sure that once the caterer has been booked, the food committee doesn't meddle unnecessarily in the arrangements.
Let the professionals handle their territory in the way they know best. The wedding committee should just take care of booking the caterers, providing them with the right guidelines for food preparation, and occasionally checking up on them.
4. Establish a budget
How much should you really spend on wedding food?
This can only be determined after careful research. If you've started planning on time and you've got your food committee in place, give them a deadline to get this information to you by (i.e. the cost of catering, servers, etc.).
Then once you have the options in front of you, you can decide how much you're willing to spend on food for the wedding.
Islamically, weddings should be simple. Consider this Hadith: 'The best wedding is that upon which the least trouble and expense is bestowed". (Mishkat)
5. Decide if you want to cook the meal yourself or cater
There are advantages and disadvantages to each option.
a. Cooking your own food:
Advantages:
1.you offer exactly the kind of food you know your guests will like
2.you could save more money
3.you can offer your own personal touch to the menu
Disadvantages:
1.you will be taking on a lot of work with no professional staff to help you
2.you must remember that cooking involves not just making the food, but ensuring that all utensils and wedding table paraphernalia are set up properly
3.you will have to work out how the food is going to be served
b. Catering:
Advantages:
1.you have one less burden to worry about-caterers usually take care of all details related to preparing the meal, utensils, etc. but confirm this with them
2.catering can lend a more professional look to your wedding
3.they may have special arrangements to keep food warm until it is served to guests.
Disadvantages:
1.it can be expensive
2.you could be restricted to the menus the caterers are offering
6. "Fats, oils & sweets: USE SPARINGLY!"
This was the title of a section of the food pyramid guide which is used to teach about good nutrition.
If you can cut back on these things in the wedding menu for the benefit of ALL guests (those with heart conditions, diabetes, etc. and those who don't have these problems) you will be doing everyone a favor.
For instance, for meat, try using lean meat in dishes. You can reduce oil in rice and other foods.
For dessert, instead of serving the traditional ones which may be dripping with syrupy sweet goo or are full of fattening cream (i.e. most wedding cakes) consider servings of fresh fruit. This is a really good option in summer, especially.
7. If you're catering make sure they will allow you to use your own meat
This is important for those Muslims conscious about eating Zabiha meat. Make sure that you have the option of providing meat to the caterers for you meal. If not, consider switching to another caterer.
8. Ensure the food will be warm when it is served What could be more disappointing than cold, unappetizing wedding food?
There are different ways of getting around this problem. If you decide to get the wedding food catered, discuss this issue with the caterers and see what solution they propose. Some places may arrange for burners to keep the food warm throughout the wedding.
If you are cooking yourself, you can also look into renting burners for this purpose, but check with the wedding hall administrators to ensure they don't have any restrictions about this (they may say no to burners if they feel it is a fire hazard to have them there).
If burners are not an option, another way of getting around this dilemma is to ensure the hall you book has an oven and microwave, preferably more than one. That way food can be warmed in time for the meal. The drawback of this approach though is that it will require a number of people to efficiently warm the food in time for serving.
9. Diversify your menu
Should you serve a traditional Middle Eastern, Indian, Malaysian, or American menu?
Living in a country that's a "melting pot" gives you the advantage of serving guests food of different ethno-cutural backgrounds.
Even if the bride and the groom are of the same cultural background, it should be remembered that not all of the guests may be. Also, kids today may be of different cultural backgrounds, but when it comes to food, hamburgers, pizza and french fries, for instance, are favorites across the board.
You don't have to have an entirely Turkish or Pakistani menu. You can have the main meal of one ethnic background and the dessert of another.
Also, don't forget to take into account the needs of those with certain dietary restrictions. Can you offer a sugar-free dessert for the benefit of guests who have diabetes? Can you cut back on lots of rich, fatty food for the benefit of everyone, especially the heart patients among your guests?
10. Decide how the food is going to be served
There are different ways caterers serve food at weddings and other such occasions. These include the following:
*.American service: individual plates are prepared and hand-delivered to guests. You will need lots of organized servers for this to work properly and efficiently
*.Buffet style: long tables of food are set up and guests serve themselves. This is actually an option that can save you money because fewer servers are necessary. Also, less food is wasted, since guests take only as much as they want, instead of being stuck with a specific portion
*.Family style: in this setup, large platters of food are brought to each table and people help themselves. This can be helpful if you have families coming, but it will obviously require servers, which will cost more money
11. Take into account clean up
When you're booking caterers, make sure they are willing to take care of cleanup as well. Otherwise, you, your family and friends may have to end up washing dishes on the wedding day when you've got more important things to look after.

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