How Islamic Guidelines Help Muslims Reduce Waste and Spend Mindfully
By Anmol Irfan
Mar/Apr 25
Each passing day brings new trends that revolve around the latest must-haves and the newest versions of everything we need to own right now. It’s not just limited to one category either. There are countless articles and social media posts dedicated to kitchen, bathroom, travel, and car essentials, and more. Such items are hardly ever “essentials” but merely things that would be nice to have. The need to just have more of anything is slowly becoming ingrained in our lives.
As with any other festive season, experts say that even advocates for sustainability seem to get caught up in the constant cycle of consumption that exorbitantly increases this time of the year. When many of us think of overconsumption, the first thing that comes to mind is fast fashion. A 2023 UN Environment Program (UNEP) study revealed that textile production has skyrocketed from 18.3 lbs per person in 1975 to 34.2 lbs in 2023, with projections at 41.5 lbs by 2030.
The world is producing, consuming, and throwing away more clothes than ever before. Clothing production doubled from 2000 to 2014, with more than 150 billion garments produced annually. Every second, the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is landfilled or burned.
Many of us donate unwanted clothes to charity shops and clothing collection banks, but do we really know what happens to them? Globally, only 30% of collected clothing are resold on domestic markets, due to poor quality and low resale value. The rest are sold to textile merchants who ship them overseas to Sub-Saharan Africa to sell in countries like Kenya, Ghana and Senegal.
But consumption isn’t just limited to clothes – it is a mindset, and one that has become equally as pervasive in Muslim communities.
In the age of social media and influencers, like others, many Muslims too easily fall into the overconsumption trap, often forgetting or ignoring what Islam says about it. The Quran stresses mindfulness when it comes to consuming anything, stating, “O children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer; eat and drink; but waste not by excess, for God loves not the wasters” (7:31). It also pointedly reminds Muslims, “And do not waste, for God does not love the wasteful” (6:141).
Tammara Soma, an associate professor at Simon Fraser University and research director and co-founder of the Food Systems Lab, said what is important to note here is the feeling of wanting to consume excessively. “There’s a verse in the Quran that talks about how everything we chase after is a mirage (29:64),” she said “Real peace can be found in remembrance of God and we try to fill that void with consumption.”
Muslims are taught that the life that we live on planet Earth and the privileges we enjoy here are temporary. We are free to enjoy what God has blessed us with, but in moderation, and we must keep our attachment at an arm’s length. The Quran states, “God made the Earth a temporary place of trial, not a permanent settlement” (40:39). Yet today’s trends around consumption are encouraging Muslims to do the exact opposite.
Within this culture are embedded what Soma describes as “nudges” which can be as simple as a “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” sign, which makes buyers think you need to buy two things to “save” when really you only need one. This is perhaps the smallest example of how overconsumption is encouraged.
Another big driver of overconsumption is the influencer culture which many popular Muslim social media creators participate in. In an effort to make Eid and Ramadan comparable to non-Muslim holidays, which are often lavish and maximalist, many Muslim influencers have fallen victim to overconsumption, especially when it comes to promoting excessive decor, clothes, and food.
“Haul videos also play a huge part. And I have to admit, they’re fun to watch!” said Annie Mirza, chief editor at Faithfully Sustainable, a U.K.-based organization promoting Muslim-led initiatives at the front of the climate crisis. “Unboxing content [and] lifestyle/beauty/fashion upgrades present overconsumption as ordinary. And the influencers who create this content need and want to keep creating it. So they, of course, buy more things or are sent PR boxes frequently.”
Of course, influencers cannot take the full blame. While they do portray an extravagant and hard-to-achieve lifestyle, they are not forcing consumers to buy everything they promote. Consumers have free will and can decide for themselves if they want to imitate them. Social media might influence them, but they do need to take personal responsibility for also contributing to the culture of overconsumption.
Teacher Afsan Redwan (PhD, ‘24, Cardiff University) discussed how online mechanism and socializing has changed mindsets around why we do what we do. Overconsumption, he says, has become a social norm. “The whole idea of social circles, and social gathering and groups is one we are seeing completely change,” he said. “Within this new social hierarchy there’s also a mechanism of shaming that’s used as well. A lot of these mechanisms come around without an Allah-centric mindset.”
Muslim sustainability activists are using Islamic principles to challenge these trends that lead to overconsumption by framing Islamic principles in the same accessible and easy-to-understand way.
Nouhad Awaad, campaigner and global outreach coordinator for Ummah for Earth, shared that the organization bases its work on three Islamic principles: Haqimah, for wisdom, Mazin for balance, and Khalifa for stewardship. By promoting these three guiding principles, Awaad believes the organization can encourage Muslims to connect with mindful consumption and shape their own lifestyle choices rather than simply doing what others tell them.
“Unfortunately we are seeing many people and consumers removed and disconnected from the consumption process,” said Awaad. “They don’t know the reality of people working to produce these things, or don’t know the environmental effects. So there is a lack of awareness on a humanitarian and environmental level.”
Mirza also explained how Muslims can take a step back and make sure that they are not part of those who are disconnected from these realities. “Faith inspires us,” she said. “It gives us meaning and purpose in many ways. It encourages us to live life in a positive way. Many of the things we must do, for example salah [prayer], reciting the Quran, reinforce and remind us about why we need to lead a healthy life.”
She added, “There’s also the ethical rationale that many of us get from faith to avoid what’s deemed harmful, like overconsumption and environmental neglect. And the accountability we feel knowing there is a God who will question us – who has entrusted us with not just the earth, but our own minds and bodies – can push us to take responsibility to live life in a healthier way. [It pushes us] to acknowledge what’s wrong – whether that’s overspending/excessive, living/unhealthy, eating/mental health problems/sickness, etc. – and aim to better it.”
Of course there is still the question of how to bring oneself to the point where distinction can be made between what is wrong and make sure Islamic teachings are at the forefront of our decision making.
“I want to ask people to link consumption to spirituality and be grateful for blessings before consuming them,” Awwad shared as a final piece of advice for anyone trying to make the switch. “Say Al hamdu lillah for whatever you consume, and say Bismillah whenever you do something, and give charity.”
Anmol Irfan is a freelance writer and journalist, who has contributed to The Guardian, VICE, Gal-dem, and others.