It is noted on most of fasting people that they make the season of Ramadan as a season of the banquets which are full of different kinds of food; and that they are extremely extravagant in this matter.

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

All the praises and thanks be to Allah, and peace and blessings of Allah be upon the Messenger of Allah.

Fasting has a lot of morals among which is that the fasting Muslim should be economical in consuming his food and drink.

It is noted on most of fasting people that they make the season of Ramadan as a season of the banquets which are full of different kinds of food; and that they are extremely extravagant in this matter. They rush to the markets to buy delicious foods to most of which they are not familiar with at any other time except in Ramadan.

This leads to the wasting of money and fatiguing of the body in consuming a lot of food. Souls become lazy in performing acts of worship; long periods of times are wasted in shopping and preparing huge quantities of foods most of which are thrown in wastebaskets.

Such extreme preparation of most of the Muslims for Ramadan by diversifying and increasing foods and drinks is contrary to Allah’s order, contrary to the wisdom of fasting, contrary to preserving health, and contradictory to the rules of economy.

If such people were adopting the religious ethics, they would have been satisfied with their regular food and drink and would have spent the excess in the ways of charity that suit Ramadan, such as feeding the poor and orphans, breaking the fast of the needy fasting people and so on.

In most cases, each of these rich squanderers has a poor or a needy neighbor, who is more deserving for the charity of the rich neighbor.

If these rich have no such kind of neighbors, so let them give their surplus money to charities or to those who can spend it well on all charitable causes.

If the spendthrift rich do that, they will add a great means of nearness to Allah along with the means of nearness to Him by fasting; that is charity to the needy. This is an advantage to society as it brings hearts closer in this blessed month and makes all fasting persons feel that they are in the month of charity, mercy and brotherliness.

In addition, if man follows his desires to the extremes and devours all kinds of food; sweet and sour; cold and hot, he will suffer the bad consequences of misery and blight, lack and imbalance of health. Sometimes, it would be an obligation ordered by the advising physician to relieve the body systems, save some power for old age, maintain mild mood and well-manage the health.

This is the outstanding wisdom of fasting, so then, how are matters turned upside down? And how is the month of fasting made into a wide field for extravagant eating and drinking?

Allah Glorified and Exalted has said, {and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance,} [Surat Al-A’râf 7:31]

O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess. 7:31

Transliteration: wakuloo waishraboo wala tusrifoo