WE are nearing Ramadan. This is the month that Muslims eagerly wait for as there are bounties and rewards for those who fast and practise good deeds, such as being prudent and avoiding wastage.
Prudent in the context of Ramadan includes the need to ensure that not only is food consumed in moderation, but also the preparation of meals for iftar (breaking of fast) and sahur (the meal before dawn), as well as the food prepared after tarawih prayers (special prayers during Ramadan) are not in excess.
In this regard, Prophet Muhammad has shown examples through his Sunnah that highlight aspects, such as healthy eating, moderation in eating and avoiding excesses that lead to wastage.
Being wasteful is an act that is abhorred in Islam, as attested in verses 26 and 27 of Surah al-Isra’ in the Quran: “And render to the kindred their due rights, as (also) to those in want, and to the wayfarer; but squander not in the manner of a spendthrift. Verily spendthrifts are brothers of Satan; and Satan is to his Lord (himself) ungrateful.”
In Malaysia, Ramadan is synonymous with food. Food is sold in abundance at bazaars, restaurants, and buffets.
Ramadan opens up the doors to bounties in the form of business opportunities.
Islam encourages people to carry out business as long as it does not involve matters that are prohibited in the religion.
However, it is critical to observe that Islam also stresses the importance that food must not be wasted.
Statistics from the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleanliness Corporation (SWCorp) show that 15,000 metric tonnes of food waste is recorded daily.
The average household throws away between 0.5 and 0.8kg of food every day.
Households contribute 38 per cent to total food waste. This is higher than the 25 per cent from markets, 23 per cent from restaurants and seven per cent from hotels.
Cumulatively, almost 3,000 metric tonnes of food thrown away daily is in good condition. This can feed 2.2 million people.
This figure is only for one day, and is taken from 2015. One can imagine the number has gone up in the last four years.
Looking from another perspective, Malaysians waste more food than the country produces. Annually, we throw away 5.5 million metric tonnes of food.
During Hari Raya and Chinese New Year, as well as Ramadan, the amount of food thrown away increases by between 20 and 25 per cent.
Malaysia is blessed with many resources. We have food that is an important cultural identity for the country.
Ramadan is the month of tarbiyyah, or education.
Let Ramadan educate ourselves to not be wasteful, especially when it comes to food.
DR SHAIKH MOHD SAIFUDDEEN SHAIKH MOHD SALLEH
Director, Centre for Science and Environment Studies, Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia