Book Name:Nematon ka Shukar Ada Karnay ka Tariqa
Sayyiduna Sa’īd bin ‘Amir رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه states that a person once came to Sayyiduna Yūnus bin ‘Ubayd رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه and complained of poverty. He asked the person, “If someone were to offer 100,000 dirhams for the eyes you see with, would you accept this?” The person said no. Sayyiduna Yūnus bin ‘Ubayd رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه asked another question, “What about your hands; would you take a thousand dirhams for them?” The person again said no. “What about your feet?”, he asked, to which the person also said no.
The narrator of this incident goes on to say that after reminding the person of the bounties of Allah, Sayyiduna Yūnus bin ‘Ubayd رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه said, “I see thousands of things in your possession, yet you complain of being poor?”[1]
Dear Islamic brothers, this is the condition of those who are impatient and ungrateful in poverty. As for those whom Allah has blessed with an abundance of wealth and riches, they do not value the food and drink they possess. Instead of giving leftover food to a needy Muslim, they prefer to throw it away. It is unfortunate that in addition to other actions that oppose Shar’iah, this practise of throwing away leftover food is increasingly prevalent in our society. Food is disrespected no matter the occasion. Whether it is a household function, niyaaz distributed in the name of pious predecessorsرَحِمَهُمُ اللهُ الْمُبِيْن , social gatherings or weddings, food is wasted in large amounts. The majority of people do not have the mindset of eating from leftover food in trays and eating leftover but perfectly edible bread and curry. Likewise, this leftover food is usually seen in bins and rubbish tips and is being completely wasted. Hence, repent for whatever you have wasted, promise not to waste a single drop of water or grain of food and begin to value the blessing of sustenance.