In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Human Responsibilities Regarding Food Production and Consumption from the Perspective of the Holy Qur’an (Part One)

Seyed Hashem Moosavi

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) designated October 16^th as World Food Day in 1979. This event is celebrated annually by over 150 countries to emphasize the need for food security and to fight against poverty and hunger.

In this article, in recognition of this important day, we will examine the Qur’anic perspective on the concept of food and its types. We will also discuss the role of food in nurturing the human body and soul, as well as the responsibilities people bear concerning it.

The Holy Qur’an, as the divine book of Muslims, not only provides spiritual and moral guidance for human life but also pays special attention to material aspects such as nutrition, considering it a significant factor in shaping one’s path in life.

The Qur’an directly refers to certain natural foods, both plant-based and animal-based, and describes them as healing foods, as well as signs of God’s greatness for the faithful and thoughtful. In Surah An-Nahl it states:

ثُمَّ كُلِي مِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ فَاسْلُكِي سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلًا ۚ يَخْرُجُ مِن بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ فِيهِ شِفَاءٌ لِّلنَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

“Then eat from all the fruits and follow the ways of your Lord made easy for you. There emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in colours, in which there is healing for people. Indeed, in that is a sign for people who give thought.” (16:69)

In Surah Al-An’am it says:

وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ نَبَاتَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَأَخْرَجْنَا مِنْهُ خَضِرًا نُّخْرِجُ مِنْهُ حَبًّا مُّتَرَاكِبًا وَمِنَ النَّخْلِ مِن طَلْعِهَا قِنْوَانٌ دَانِيَةٌ وَجَنَّاتٍ مِّنْ أَعْنَابٍ وَالزَّيْتُونَ وَالرُّمَّانَ مُشْتَبِهًا وَغَيْرَ مُتَشَابِهٍ ۗ انظُرُوا إِلَىٰ ثَمَرِهِ إِذَا أَثْمَرَ وَيَنْعِهِ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكُمْ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

‎”And He is the One who sends down rain from the sky, then We produce from it all kinds of plants. We produce from it greenery, from which We produce grains arranged in layers. And from the palm trees, of its emerging fruit are clusters hanging low. And We produce gardens of grapevines and olive and pomegranates, similar and dissimilar. Look at their fruits when they begin to bear fruit and ripen. Indeed, in that are signs for people who believe.” (6:99)

As can be seen in these verses, not only are certain foods, like fruits, recommended for consumption, but there is also emphasis on observing their ripening process. This Qur’anic instruction highlights that humans have duties concerning the food they produce and consume, which they should not neglect.

Here are some of these responsibilities:

• Paying Attention to the Food One Consumes

Perhaps one of the most explicit commands given to humans in the Qur’an is to pay attention to their food. In Surah Abasa, it is stated:

فَلْيَنظُرِ الْإِنسَانُ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِهِ

“Let man look at his food.” (80:24)

This verse advises people to be mindful of the food they consume. This mindfulness includes not only selecting healthy and beneficial food but also ensuring that the food is lawful and permissible. Ibn Abbas, in his interpretation of this verse, says, “The meaning is to consider the end of his food,[1]” because from the Qur’anic perspective, if food is not lawful, it not only harms the body but also damages the soul and hinders one’s spiritual progress.

Another point derived from this verse is that attention to food is necessary in both production and consumption. The consumer must be aware of what they eat, and the producer must ensure that they produce food properly for themselves and others.

• Gratitude for Divine Blessings

One of the other duties humans have regarding divine blessings, especially the food they produce or consume, is gratitude. The Qur’an says:

فَكُلُوا مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ حَلَالًا طَيِّبًا وَاشْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ

“So eat from what Allah has provided for you [that is] lawful and good. And be grateful for the favour of Allah, if it is Him that you worship” (16:114).

In this verse, God emphasizes that while humans are permitted to eat from what He has provided, they must do so with gratitude, as all blessings come from Him. This gratitude is a sign of worship and recognition of the Lord and prevents ungratefulness. According to the meaning of previous verse, it also ensures the continuation of prosperity and economic well-being in societies[2].

There is a hadith from Imam Sadiq (as), where he warns about the consequences of ingratitude. A group of Bani Israel had lived in luxury to the point where they used food to make small statues and sometimes, they would also purify their bodies with it. but eventually, they were afflicted by famine and forced to eat that dirty and spoiled food.

This serves as a warning to all people and nations who are immersed in divine blessings, as disrespect for God’s gifts and the neglect of gratitude leads to punishment, with the least consequence being the loss of those blessings.

In this regard, it is appropriate to mention a narration from Imam Sadiq (as), who said: “My father would become upset if he had to wipe his hand, which had become tainted with food, with a napkin. Out of respect for the food, he would lick his hand instead. If a child was beside him and had left food in their dish, he would clean the dish for them. He even said, ‘Sometimes a small amount of food falls from the table, and I search for it until the house servant laughs, wondering why I am looking for just a small piece of food.'”

He then added, “A people before you lived in great comfort, but they were ungrateful and wasted food without purpose. As a result, God took away His blessings from them, and they were afflicted with famine.[3]”

• Avoiding Wastefulness

The Qur’an not only emphasizes the quality of food for the human being but is also sensitive about its quantity, warning against wastefulness. In Surah Al-A’raf it says:

وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ

“Eat and drink but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.” (7:31)

This verse clearly states that God does not like those who waste food.

In another verse, Surah Al-An’am it says:

وَآتُوا حَقَّهُ يَوْمَ حَصَادِهِ ۖ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ

“And give its due on the day of harvest, and do not be wasteful. Indeed, He does not like the wasteful.” (6:141)

It could be said that if today’s world followed just this one dietary instruction from Islam, there would no longer be a need for the numerous large international organizations working to ensure food security and combat poverty and hunger worldwide.

According to the FAO, about one-third of the world’s food production is wasted every year, amounting to 1.3 billion tons of food that could meet the needs of millions of people.

The wastefulness in food has different forms in various countries. In developed countries, it often occurs during consumption and distribution. Consumers tend to buy more food than they need, or strict quality standards result in food being wasted in stores. However, in developing countries, food waste mostly occurs during production, harvesting, storage, and transportation.

This food waste not only leads to the loss of food but also wastes resources such as water, energy, and agricultural land used for its production, and at the same time, causes severe environmental impacts.

All these points highlight the urgent need for better global management of food resources and the reduction of food waste, while the Qur’an had already, 14 centuries ago, provided instructions and guidance to address this issue, which unfortunately, even Muslims have not fully utilized.

[1] . Tafsir Ahlul Bayt (as) V.17, P. 382: Collection of Varram, V.1, P.149.

[2] . Tafsir Rahnama. Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, V.9, P. 471.

[3] . Tafsir Nemooneh, Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi, V. 11, P. 430, under the commentary of verse 114 of Surah An-Nahl.