Islam Forbids Food Waste
By Mohammed A. Khan
F ood waste is a major problem in much of the world. While millions go hungry, millions of tonnes of food is wasted at all levels of the food chain. Farmers, manufacturers, retailers, restaurants and consumers are all complicit in this problem. In the US roughly 30 to 50 per cent of food produced for consumption ends up in landfills each year. The estimated cost of such waste is pegged at more than $1 billion. In Canada an estimated 40 percent of the food, valued at $27 billion by the Value Chain Management Centre, finds its way into landfill and composting every year. Similarly, in the European Union countries around 50% of edible and healthy food is wasted each year. The European parliament recently adopted a resolution calling for urgent measures to halve food waste by 2025 and to improve access to food for needy EU citizens.
In an age of increasing poverty such waste is absolutely intolerable and urgent measures should be taken to address it all levels of the food chain. Islam forbids all forms of waste and explicitly mentions that food waste is an impious act. In Islamic worldview food is considered to be a great and highly valued blessing. Therefore we, find numerous sayings of the holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) warning against any kind of food wastage. There are explicit instructions related to the value of food for the individual, traders, businesses, and the state. The most prevalent narrations of the holy Prophet (PBUH) begin at the individual level. This is logical as every major initiative begins with the individual before it permeates through the society. In a narration the Prophet (PBUH) is reported as saying that if a morsel falls off one’s hand he should pick it up, clean it, and eat it. Just because the food has fallen off one’s hand or plate doesn’t mean we should waste it. Islamic jurists have interpreted this narration to mean that if the morsel falls in a clean place then it is clean and should be eaten.
In the light of these teachings it is imperative that Muslims to be conscious of the value of food and treat it with the respect that it deserves. Just because we have access to abundant food, doesn’t mean we have a license to indulge in waste. We never know when we will be denied of this blessing.
Some Muslim communities and organizations are already taking action to tackle food waste. Chicago's Sabeel Food Pantry (www.sabeelfoodpantry.org) , an IFANCA initiative, collects healthy, safe, and edible food from Panera Bread, J & M Food Products, and other businesses, which would have otherwise been wasted and distributes it among the needy. This service reaches nearly 1600 people each year and is only increasing. More such initiatives need to be taken to tackle waste and hunger at all levels of the food chain.
