Fezia Ul-Haq, London
I was taken aback seeing a video clip of restaurant owners and farmers drowning out milk which they could not sell or use. [1] Covid-19 lockdown has had dire effects on businesses including the food industry. So much so, food wastage has seen an alarming rise.
As difficult as the economic impact of the coronavirus on different sectors of society, we should not forget our moral obligation to avoid waste. Whilst the crisis of Covid-19 is devastating, world hunger is and has been an annihilating reality. Wasting food only adds to the horror which hunger and poverty are. The FAO has found that an estimated one-third of all food produced around the world is lost or goes to waste. [2] A study also showed that there was approximately 1.3 billion tonnes of food waste in production, which is enough to feed all of the world’s 870 million hungry people four times over. [3]
It is a peculiar scene to see that on the one hand, supermarkets are running out of supplies due to panic-buying as a result of the pandemic, and on the other, food which could end hunger is going to waste.
In relation to this topic, His Holiness Mirza Tahir Ahmad, 4th Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community eloquently said: “There are countries in the world, which have all the potential and resources to change their lot within a matter of a few years without feeling the pinch themselves. Yet such countries do not care to commit their resources to ameliorate the sufferings of the hundreds of millions of people in poorer countries.” He continues: “It is a shame that despite all the advancement in science and technology, the elimination of thirst and hunger has not received the attention it needs.” [4]
As a community, we could do our part in reducing waste. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) used to say that when food gets dropped, then you should remove the part which is dirty, and eat the rest, so to not leave it for Satan. He also commanded that wipe your plates (as in, eat and completely finish the meal), and stated that you do not know which part of the food contains blessings for you. [5]
Such practices can instil the habit of utilising all provisions which we are blessed to have, and not let our blessings go to waste. We become grateful in times of trial. Despite the wastage we are seeing, it is also vital to remember those acts of kindness which the lockdown has brought. One headline read: ‘UK food waste charity given 360 tonnes more than usual as businesses close.’ [6] Instances like these show that we are capable of managing well during a crisis and remembering what is important in the grand scheme of things.
Whilst this time is uncertain and difficult, and may exacerbate already prevalent issues, the words of His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his Helper) have proven to be a source of peace. He stated: “Pray for yourself, your family, the community and the whole of humanity.” [7] Indeed, prayer can save us from this hardship and ease the difficulty which this situation is.
May God Almighty fulfil the prayer which was uttered by Prophet Jesus: ‘…O Allah, our Lord, send down to us a table from heaven spread with food that it may be to us a festival, to the first of us and to the last of us, and a Sign from Thee; and provide sustenance for us, for Thou art the Best of sustainers.’ [Holy Quran 5:115]
I pray that the help of God is with us all. May our prayers for an end to this tragic situation be fulfilled. I also hope and pray that we do not ignore our responsibilities towards the vulnerable in this trying time.
1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxh8qLfWw40
2 http://www.fao.org/food-loss-and-food-waste/en/
3 http://www.fao.org/in-action/seeking-end-to-loss-and-waste-of-food-along-production-chain/en/
4 https://www.alislam.org/library/books/IslamsResponseToContemporaryIssues.pdf
5 https://www.alfazlonline.org/09/04/2020/14790/
Voice of British Muslim Women 
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