Have you ever felt so full to the point that you cannot even walk because your stomach is so bloated and you feel the need to unbutton your pants because they feel way too tight?
At some point in our lives, we have all consumed food in excessive amounts and felt so horrible after. In months like Ramadhan especially, we tend to overestimate how much we can eat during suhoor and iftar. We often prepare food in huge portions and end up throwing away perfectly good leftovers into the bin.
A report done by EcoMena showed that one fifth of the food we prepare during Ramadhan ends up being thrown away. That’s approximately 4500 tonnes of food waste, according to a study by Alam Flora, which is equivalent to the weight of 30 fully developed blue whales!
Why are we like this?
We are so fortunate to be able to afford proper food yet we prepare it in immoderate amounts and then throw it away while other people living in poverty are left to starve. What is the point of Ramadhan then? Aren’t we supposed to feel how the poor people feel? And aren’t we supposed to give what we can to those who have next to nothing?
Prophet Muhammad once said, “The food of one person is enough for two, and the food of two people is enough for four, and the food of four people is enough for eight.”
Imagine all the food and money we could have donated to the poor if we just cooked the right portions of food for ourselves. Imagine all the smiles we could have put on people’s faces when they receive something we all take for granted - a meal.
Food wastage is not the spirit of Ramadhan.
This year, we’re doing something different. The #LetsFastNotFeast campaign will focus on combating this issue as it reminds people about the real spirit of Ramadhan. This movement will dive deeper into the true meaning of this sacred month: controlling your desires, strengthening your faith and giving what you can to others.
We want people to know that the month of Ramadhan is not about abstaining from food and drink during the day and then feasting during the night. Ramadhan is the month when the Holy Quran was revealed to Nabi Muhammad SAW. That is why Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Quran (khatam) throughout the month. Additionally, Ramadhan is a month where Muslims are encouraged to perform terawih prayers as it is the main form of worship in the nights of Ramadhan and cannot be performed in other months.
“Whoever worships during the nights of Ramadhan in piety and sincerity for Allah S.W.T, Allah shall forgive his past sins," Bukhari and Muslim.
Moreover, Ramadhan is signified as a month where Muslims should repent to Allah as it is believed that Allah opens the doors of the heavens and doubles your rewards (pahala) during this cherished month.
“When the month of Ramadhan begins, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hellfire are closed and the devils are chained.”
More importantly, Ramadhan is the month of sadaqa, which is the Arabic word for charity. It is said in the Quran that Allah promises to give great rewards to those who donate in whatever means they can.
Henceforth, we hope that you will join us in supporting our movement by embracing Ramadhan spiritually and not overindulging in food that will go to waste in the end. #LetsFastNotFeast!
Happy Ramadhan Muslim brothers and sisters!
