This refers to the report “The first Saudi Food Bank.” The initiative is really encouraging and inspiring. Al-Fozan’s Itaam program is an excellent step for the prevention of food wastage. It also highlights the youth’s contribution to it. This social foundation, especially in the month of Ramadan, will surely gain lots of rewards and blessings. It is heartbreaking to read about the high poverty rates in the Kingdom. As Allah says in the Qur’an: “Eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allah) likes not Al-Musrifun (those who waste by extravagance).” (7:31)
Allah also says: “And those, who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor niggardly, but hold a medium (way) between those (extremes). (25:67)
One should eat a little and healthy food as our Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The child of Adam has not filled any receptacle worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the child of Adam to eat small bits of food that keep him healthy. Now if he wants to eat much any way, he should give a third to the food, a third to the drink and a third (of his stomach) to let him breathe comfortably.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also instructed us not to leave anything in the plate as “You do not know in which portion of your food Allah has put the Barakah (blessings).” (Sahih Muslim).
Ramadan is indeed a month of blessings. This month is also a resting stage for our stomachs, preventing us from various stomach diseases as mentioned in various Hadiths. All this has been medically proven as well.
However, the food that is rotten is harmful for health and we can prevent food from rotting by not cooking extra food. Also, eating less and healthy food is better keeping in mind the millions of people who are not able to eat even a single meal every day.
May Allah have mercy upon us and bless us with wisdom to follow the right path chosen by Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him).
Dr. Areej Rana
Jeddah