• Desi aunties have become TikTok sensations but does the viral “Bismillah di Barkat”- Aunty trend have some serious consequences?
• This article explores whether it’s all a bit of harmless fun.
Desi Aunties: The Unexpected TikTok Super Stars
Well well well…Who would’ve thought? Desi aunties are ruling TikTok now—something none of us saw coming. Absolute bangers.
Cooking shows like Pulwasha Cooks Official are a massive hit. Roti content is on point, and Desi aunties have taken their hustle to the next level— selling flower-power salwar kameez on TikTok Shop.
Enter Bismillah Di Barkat (The Blessings of calling upon the name of Allah)..
It’s just a harmless viral trend I hear you say! But let’s hit pause and actually think about what’s happening here.
Rewind: Where Did This All Begin?
It all started with an aunty in rural Pakistan—out in the pind, filming outdoors, whipping up her own unique recipe concoctions. As she placed each ingredient into the pan, she’d say “Bismillah di Barkat”.
And, of course, the internet did what the internet does. Younger creators started mimicking her by draping a chaddar over themselves and using the same Punjabi accent, the same exaggerated actions, but doing everything except cooking. Think makeup tutorials, bizarre food experiments, and all sorts of wacky content, all stamped with the now-iconic “Bismillah di Barkat” tagline. And Hun main paan lagiyah (Im now going to add).
The aunty gained her five minutes of widespread fame across Pakistan and India, with numerous commentaries on her.
But When Does the Joke Go Too Far?
At first, the aunty herself seemed to lean into it, making even wilder recipes and playing up her own gimmick. But somewhere along the way, the line between invoking Allah’s name and outright mockery got seriously blurred.
Now, I’m not here to haram police you, my dear readers. But let’s be honest—we all know that Allah is the most powerful, we consequently know the power of invoking Allah. Using this phrase as a punchline for viral clout is distasteful and disrespectful to our deen. Moreover, to our creator. Comedy is great but we have boundaries as Muslims. Creativity is even better. But surely, not at the expense of our faith. Do your thing, just don’t use Allah’s name as a joke— that’s all I’m saying, it’s simply not worth it.
