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

Human Responsibilities Regarding the Production and Consumption of Food According to the Holy Qur’an (Part Two)

Seyed Hashem Moosavi

In the previous issue, we discussed the role of food in nurturing both the body and soul of human beings and touched upon some of the responsibilities humans have concerning food production and consumption, as outlined in the Holy Qur’an. We explained that according to the Qur’an, paying attention to food, expressing gratitude for it, and avoiding wastefulness are key responsibilities, and neglecting them can lead to significant harm.

In this part, we will explore other responsibilities that humans have regarding food production and consumption, according to the Qur’an. As the first point, we emphasize the necessity of moderation in eating and drinking to maintain the health of the body.

Human Responsibility in Maintaining Bodily Health

The human body is a trust from God, and preserving and maintaining it is considered a religious duty. Certain behaviours, such as neglecting to choose healthy food, failing to observe moderation in eating and drinking, and wasting food, may lead to physical illnesses. These, in turn, can reduce an individual’s effectiveness in various areas, including worship and the fulfilment of religious and social duties.

The Holy Qur’an invites humans to care for their bodies and to avoid excess consumption of food, advising: “O children of Adam! Take your adornment at every place of worship, and eat and drink, but do not be excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess.”[1]

The Prophet Muhammad (sa) also emphasized the importance of keeping the body healthy and pointed out one of the most significant factors that can threaten human health. He said: “The stomach is the house of diseases, and abstinence is the best of remedies.” In this hadith, the stomach is compared to the kitchen of the body, indicating that if one neglects moderation in what enters it, the capacity for all kinds of illnesses can arise. Since humans are responsible for maintaining their bodily health, they must be diligent in controlling whatever threatens this health, such as overeating or unhealthy eating.

Avoiding Forbidden Foods and Beverages

One of the most critical religious responsibilities regarding food is to abstain from consuming forbidden foods and beverages. This teaching is part of the comprehensive Islamic system that guides humans toward a healthy lifestyle, both physically and spiritually. In the Holy Qur’an, God Almighty has prohibited certain foods and beverages to protect human health and avoid physical and spiritual harm. The most significant verse in this regard is verse 3 of Surah Al-Ma’idah, where God explicitly declares foods such as blood, carrion, and the flesh of animals not slaughtered in God’s name as forbidden:

“[2]«حرمت عليكم الميتة و الدم و لحم الخنزير و ما أهل لغير الله به ….».

The wisdom behind these prohibitions can include protecting physical health, avoiding negative spiritual impacts, and maintaining spiritual purity. For instance, pork contains unhealthy fats and may harbour parasites and microbes that can harm the human body. Similarly, blood, which contains toxins and waste products from the animal’s body, is harmful to consume. Furthermore, foods acquired from unlawful and forbidden sources can lead individuals away from religious and ethical values.

In a hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (sa), it is stated: “Any flesh that is nourished by unlawful wealth, the Hellfire is more deserving of it.” This hadith and the Qur’anic verse make it clear that consuming forbidden food not only harms the body but can also have severe consequences for the soul and one’s eternal destiny. Therefore, to preserve both physical and spiritual health and align with ethical and religious principles, humans must avoid consuming such foods.

Avoiding Hoarding of Food

Another responsibility humans have regarding food is to avoid hoarding essential goods, especially food, a practice that is strongly condemned in Islamic teachings. Hoarding is seen as a cause of harm to society and a reason for the loss of blessings in people’s lives.

The Qur’an places great emphasis on justice in the distribution of resources and condemns injustice, as mentioned in Surah An-Nisa:

«وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَكُمْ بَيْنَكُمْ بِالْبَاطِلِ…»

“And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly…[3]“

Hoarding leads to price increases, the creation of artificial scarcity, and pressure on the weaker sections of society. In a hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (sa), it is said: “Whoever hoards goods to increase prices is not one of us.”

There is also an anecdote about Imam Ali (as) while walking through the market in Kufa. He noticed a person who had stored a large quantity of wheat and planned to sell it later at a higher price. Imam Ali said to him: “O servant of God, fear God and sell this wheat to the people at a fair price. Hoarding removes blessings and causes hardship for people.”

These verses and hadiths make it clear that avoiding the destruction of food supplies or hoarding them and ensuring that everyone has access to food is one of the fundamental responsibilities humans have regarding food, both in its production and consumption.

The Necessity of Charity in Providing for the Needy

One of the prominent principles in the Holy Qur’an is the necessity of charity and helping the needy, especially in providing for their basic food needs. The Holy Qur’an, in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 177, refers to one of the characteristics of true believers:

«لن تنالوا البر حتى تنفقوا مما تحبون»

 “You will never attain righteousness until you spend [in the way of Allah] from that which you love.”

This verse clearly states that to attain goodness and closeness to God, one must give to the needy from what one cherishes. One of the most important areas for charity is helping the poor in securing their food. Many verses in the Qur’an emphasize the importance of helping the poor and needy in obtaining essential needs, including food. Among these verses is verse 8 of Surah Al-Insan, where God praises the family of the Prophet for their selfless acts of feeding the poor: “And they give food, in spite of love for it, to the needy, the orphan, and the captive.”

From this and surrounding verses, it can be understood that selflessly providing food to the needy, orphans, and captives ensures protection from the hardships of the Day of Judgment and leads to the reward of Paradise. Selfless giving, especially when one is in need themselves, is praised and admired by God[4].

Thus, by giving charity for the sake of God, not only are the needs of the poor met, but the giver is also blessed with God’s mercy and abundance.

Attention to the Food Production Chain

According to the Holy Qur’an, attention to the food production chain is another responsibility of humans. People are obligated to use natural resources wisely and to preserve them for future generations. This responsibility is implicitly mentioned in the Qur’an, where God designates humans as stewards and trustees of the earth:

 «وَهُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَكُمْ خَلَائِفَ فی الْأَرْضِ»

“It is He who has made you successors on the earth.[5].”

The stewardship of humans over the earth implies their responsibility to safeguard natural resources and use them for food production in a manner that does not harm the environment or society. Therefore, protecting the environment and ensuring sustainable food production is one of the moral and religious duties of humankind.

Considering what has been discussed in both parts of this article, the Holy Qur’an calls upon humanity to approach food production and consumption responsibly. Moderation and avoiding waste in eating and drinking, expressing gratitude for the blessings of food, abstaining from forbidden foods and drinks, taking care of one’s health, avoiding the hoarding of food, assisting the needy in obtaining food, and paying attention to the food production chain are among the responsibilities highlighted in Islamic teachings, particularly in the Holy Qur’an, guiding humans toward balance and accountability in this area.

[1] . Surah Al-A’raf, 7:31

[2] . [Eating impure substances that are incompatible with your body and soul] has been forbidden to you, [such as] carrion, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been slaughtered in the name of anything other than God.

[3] . Surah An-Nisa, 4:29

[4] . Farhang e Qur’an, V. 7, P. 117 – V. 16, P. 651- V.28, P47

[5] . Surah Fatir, 35:39