In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Our discussion today is on the celebration of World Food Day, which is celebrated throughout the world each year on 16th October, it started in1995.

This year’s theme ‘is “The right to food”. The Holy Quran established the right to food for every human being thousand years back, before it was done by the United Nations. The Quran is a holy Book, given to the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) to spread Pertinent information to mankind. Every word in this holy book” is the word of Allah the Almighty.

According to Sura Shuala V.192-194, it states: “Verily this is a Revelation from the lord of the worlds: With it came the truthful spirit to thy heart that thou mayst admonish”.   The Holy Quran mentioned the past, present and the future of everything.” ... Nothing have we omitted from the Book, ... (Sura An’am V.38).

When Allah chose Adam as His Caliphate, He took Adam and Eve to heaven, the first thing He gave them was food to eat. Sura Baqara V. 35 states: “And we said: O Adam! dwell and thy wife in the garden and eat of the bountiful things therein as (where and when) ye will, but approach not this tree, Or ye run into harm and transgression.”

Sura Taha V.118-119 states: “There is therein (enough provision) for thee not to go hungry nor to go naked.   Nor to suffer from thirst not from the sun’s heat.”

The Holy Quran states that the thing that Allah gave to man is food, shelter and clothing.   It shows that it is an obligation to every man. It is the right of every man to eat and drink.

When Adam was finally driven out of heaven, the food and shelter was found on earth. So the food was there and the land was fertile for farming. Allah stated that He owns the earth especially, the land. Everybody has the right to food.   Sura Rahma V.10-12: “It is He who has spread out the earth for (His) creatures therein is fruit and date-palms producing spathes (enclosing dates):

Also corn, with (its) leaves and stalk for fodder and sweet smelling plants.”   Sura Baqara V.24-32 states: “Then let man look at his food, (And how we provide it): For that we pour forth water in abundance. And we split the earth in fragments, and produce therein grain, and Grapes and the fresh vegetation, and olives and dates, and enclosed Gardens, Dense with lofty trees, and fruits and fodder, - A provision for you and your cattle.

It is narrated in the Quran that wherever there is a tree, it is planted by Allah for mankind.   It can be used by everybody.   Sura Aram V.141: “It is He who produce the Gardens, with trellises and without, and dates and tilth with produce of all kinds, and olives and pomegranates, similar (in kind) and different (in variety) eat of their fruit in their season, but render the dues that are proper on the day that the harvest is gathered. But waste not by excess: for Allah loveth not the waster.”

The Quran narrated that all the animals on this earth are created for the use of mankind, every part of the animals can be useful to man.   Sura Yasin V.71-73 states: “See they not that it is we who have created for them among the things which our hands have fashioned cattle, which are under their dominion? And that we have subjected them to their use? of them some do carry them and some they eat: And they have other profits from them (besides) and they get (milk) to drink will they not then be grateful.”

According to the Quran everything that is in the sea, is placed thereby Allah, specially for man. He is free to take anything that he wants Sura Nahl V.14 states: “It is he who has made the sea subject, that   ye may eat there of flesh that is fresh and tender. And that ye may extract there from ornaments to wear, and thou seest the ships therein that plough the waves, that ye may see (thus) of the bounty of

Allah and that ye may be grateful.”

Allah said that food should be shared by each and everyone   of us, be they prophets and any other one.

Sura Minimun V.51: “O ye messengers, enjoy (All) things good and pure, and work righteousness: For I am well-acquainted with (All) that ye do.”   Sura Anbiyaa V.8 states: “Nor did we give them bodies that ate no food, nor were they immortals.”   According to Sura Furqan V.20 states: “And the messengers whom we sent before thee were all (men) who ate food and walked through the markets ...”

The prophets used to share food with people.   Even if the people have more than they have.   Prophet Abraham first prayed in Mecca for abundant food and security.   Sura Baqara V.126 states “And remember Abraham said: My Lord, make this a city of peace, and feed its people with fruits, such of them as believe in Allah and the Last Day ...”

Allah placed man on a high position, where He does not put any other one else.   So we should share with one another. “We have honoured the sons of Adam, provided them with transport on land and sea;

given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special favours, above a great part of our creation” (Sura Israel V.70).

These verses shows that Islam has always advocate for the right to food.

May the Almighty drive away, poverty and hunger throughout the world, so that there will be peace.