Wasting Food

QUESTION:

My sister usually buys food more than her needs and there are usually leftovers which animals could benefit from. If there were some leftovers and she wanted to throw them away, am I sinful if I didn’t take the food from her, and instead, I give it to animals? Am I sinful if I let her throw it away?

ANSWER:

You should continue advising her not to waste her food as this is a major sin. Your responsibility is to command her to do good and prohibit her from evil. Hence, if she throws it away, you will not be sinful. Yes, if you take the food and give it to the birds, you will be greatly rewarded in the court of Allah Insha’Allah.

لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ

“Allah does not burden a person beyond his ability. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned.”

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدِ نِ الْخُدْرِي رَوَاهُ قَالَ : سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ: مَنْ رَأَى مِنْكُمْ مُنْكَرًا فَلْيُغَيّرْهُ بِيَدِهِ، فَإِنْ
لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِلِسَانِهِ، فَإِنْ لَّمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِقَلْبِهِ ، وَذَلِكَ أَضْعَفُ الْإِيْمَانِ.
(مسلم والترمذي وابن ماجة والنسائي)

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Abdul Kader Fazlani

Date: 12 Muharram 1448 / 29 June 2026

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb