People advised against wasting food in Ramadan

Al Ain: Religious scholars have advised people to stop wasting food by cooking huge amounts and discarding the surplus as it violates the spirit of Ramadan.

The scholars said people should be more careful about following the strictures of fasting. Ahmad Mustafa, an Egyptian prayer leader, said Muslims must make use of the benefits associated with fasting. "Other than the numerous health benefits, fasting teaches Muslims to feel and understand hunger, deprivation and the suffering of fellow human beings," he said.

"It is painful to see heaps of food thrown in the dustbins," he added. Abdul Kareem Khan, a Pakistani religious scholar, said many people have been acting against the basic principles of fasting when they cook such large quantities of food which later go to waste.

Good values

"There is a need to simplify the menu during the month," he said, adding that money spent lavishly on food should be donated to charities.

"This would help the underprivileged," he said. Khan said Islam strictly frowns on excess. Qari Mohammad Farooq, an Indian scholar, said refraining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset teaches Muslims many good values, but wasting food is a sin."

Farooq said many people wrongly believe Ramadan is a festive season. Such people have lost the real concept of an exalted month.

"It is not enough just to refrain from food and drink," he added. "People should employ their time by following proper religious guidance."