Household Food Waste Reduction: An Islamic Perspective

Abstract

One of the most pressing issues confronting humanity today is the increase in food waste (FW). This is a global issue, and Muslim communities are no exception. There are some indicators of the contribution of Muslim communities to this issue. There is an enormous amount of food waste generated during Ramadan. Middle Eastern countries are recognised as some of the world’s highest food wasters. During Ramadan, 30-50 percent of the food prepared in Saudi Arabia is wasted. In Qatar, the percentage was 25 percent and in the United Arab Emirates, it increases to 40 percent. This information raises questions about the value of food to Muslim communities. Islam places the greatest emphasis on the values of food and sets certain guidelines on Muslim behaviour towards food. Wasting food is not allowed in Islam. Thus, this article explores guidance provided by Islam regarding food to reduce food waste. This article is based on literature review of books, journal papers, reports, articles, and other published material.