Date : 23-05-2019

Question :

What is the ruling on extravagance in food?


The Answer :

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.



Ramadan is the month of goodness and mercy in which Allah showers his salves with blessings so that they show gratitude to Him and ask of His bounty. He the Almighty said, "Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong)." During this sacred month, it is incumbent upon every Muslim to offer as much acts of obedience as possible to come closer to Allah, in addition to avoiding evil deeds and prohibited matters. Allah the Almighty says, "Then do ye remember Me; I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and reject not Faith."{Al-Baqarah, 152}.



Some people`s extravagance reflected in many images such as in food and drink which is unacceptable in Islam, as it doesn`t befit a believing Muslim to be extravagant for Allah doesn`t love the wasters. He the Almighty says, "eat and drink: But waste not by excess, for God loveth not the wasters.'{Al-A`araf, 31}.



Wasting food and drink is an act of extravagance, because it involves wasting Allah's blessings for which a person should be grateful rather than ungrateful. Allah the Almighty says, "And render to the kindred their due rights, as (also) to those in want, and to the wayfarer: But squander not (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift. Verily spendthrifts are brothers of the Evil Ones; and the Evil One is to his Lord (himself) ungrateful."{Al-Isra`, 26,27}.



In addition, Anas reported that when Allah's Messenger (PBUH) ate food he licked his three fingers, and he said: "When any one of you drops a mouthful he should remove anything filthy from it and then eat it, and should not leave it for the Satan. He also commanded us that we should wipe the dish saying: You do not know in what portion of your food the blessing lies."{Muslim}.



Moreover, a Muslim should make food according to his need. If any of it remains, then it should be given to those in need, as reflected in the following hadith: the Prophet(PBUH): Abu Sa’id al-Khudri said: While we were traveling along with the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) a man came to him on his she camel, and began to drive her right and left. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said he who has a spare riding beast should give it to him who has no riding beast; and he who has surplus equipment should give it to who has no equipment. We thought that none of us had a right in surplus property."{Abu Dawoud}. And Allah the Almighty knows best.