By Shaykh Abdul Qayum
7 February 2025

﷽

Brothers and sisters, as we prepare for the blessed month of Ramadan, let us reflect on the guidance of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ regarding the precious gifts bestowed upon us. Allah reminds us in the Qur’an about moderation and avoiding excess, teaching us to be mindful of His endless blessings.

The scale of food waste in our society is staggering. According to the latest parliamentary report, UK households waste 6.4 million tonnes of food annually – worth £17 billion. This equates to £1,000 per family of four being thrown away. As Muslims, this should deeply concern us, as Allah warns explicitly in the Qur’an:

Even more powerfully, Allah describes the wasteful as brothers of Satan:

This stern warning shows the gravity of waste in our religion.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ showed us simple, practical ways to avoid wasting food through his own example. He would eat with just three fingers, naturally taking smaller portions. If any food dropped, he taught us to pick it up, clean it and eat it rather than throw it away, telling us “You do not know in which portion of your food the blessing lies.” The wisdom in this teaching is clear – each morsel of food is a blessing from Allah that we shouldn’t waste.  

The Prophet ﷺ also made sure food was stored properly, always covering vessels and teaching his companions to do the same. These aren’t just random habits – they show us that using food carefully and avoiding waste is a key part of our faith and a way of showing gratitude for what Allah has given us. 

With Ramadan approaching, these lessons about food waste are especially important, as sadly many of us waste more food during this blessed month than any other time of the year. While we know the huge rewards of feeding those who are fasting, we often cook far too much food for our iftar gatherings. Those mounds of leftover food usually end up in the bin.

So, during Ramadan, before cooking huge amounts of food for iftar, let’s think carefully about how many people we’re actually feeding. We can always cook more if needed, but we can’t undo waste once it happens. The Prophet ﷺ himself taught us that Allah loves small but consistent good deeds more than large ones we can’t maintain. 

When you’re planning iftar, think carefully about portions. The reality is most guests come to break their fast, pray Maghrib, and then rush off to get ready for Tarawih. I’ve seen so many hosts exhausted from cooking all day and then feeling frustrated seeing plates of untouched food.

Let me share some practical tips from my own experience organising iftars. If you’re hosting, start with dates and water for everyone to break their fast. Then, serve the main meal in stages – this prevents food from going cold and gives you a better sense of how much more to put out. Keep some backup dishes in the freezer rather than overcooking.

And here’s something important – if you do end up with extra food, don’t let it go to waste. Local food banks are crying out for donations. The latest figures show they’re handling 170,000 tonnes of surplus food – worth £590 million. Imagine the blessing of your iftar feeding not just your guests, but also families in need.

Remember, wasting food doesn’t just hurt our pockets – it goes against what Allah and His Messenger ﷺ taught us. Every time we throw away food, we’re being ungrateful for Allah’s blessings. Every time we save food from waste, we’re following the sunnah.

Brothers and sisters, let’s make this Ramadan different. Let’s show genuine gratitude for Allah’s blessings by using them wisely. Whether you’re hosting iftar or attending one, be mindful of waste. Small changes in how we handle food can make a huge difference.

May Allah help us to be among those who are grateful for His blessings and careful with what He provides us. May He accept our fasting and our efforts to reduce waste this Ramadan.

O Allah, make us among the moderate and not among the wasteful.

Ameen.

---

Help us complete our Phase 3 expansion for the new prayer halls!