QUESTION:

What do the scholars of the Dīn and muftīs of the Sacred Law state regarding the following issue: What should be done with the food that is left over – can it be disposed of in the bin?

Questioner: Sarfaraz from UK

ANSWER:

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب

Disposing of food by throwing it away in the bin, etc. is prohibited and is disrespectful to the food; it is better that it be looked after by it being stored away in the refrigerator, etc. so that it can be used again later on at some other time that is more convenient. Moreover, if one is eating at a restaurant, etc. then the remaining food can be packed away, even though this may be difficult or inconvenient at times, nevertheless there will blessings in the sustenance due to respecting the food. However, if it cannot be stored in the fridge/freezer, then one should feed it to the birds/other animals but this should not be done on public roads and streets as this would come under the feet[1], just as it is stated in Bahār-e-Sharī’at, ‘If pieces of bread have piled up together on the eating mat, either eat it or feed it to the chickens, cows or goats etc. Otherwise, carefully leave it somewhere safe where the birds or ants will eat it; never throw it onto a road (pathway).’

[Bahār-e-Sharī’at, vol. 3, part 16, p. 376]

[1] Also bearing in mind any laws with regards to the placing of food in public places.

واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری

Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri
Translated by Haider Ali Madani

Read the original Urdu answer here: [Q-ID0842] What should be done with left over food Can we throw it away?