Improving Nutritional and Food Security Status in Muslim Communities: Integration of Quranic Practices in Development Programs: A Review

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to illustrate and to assess the Islamic perspective of nutrition and food security in the light of Quran. Quran is a book of social guidance, politics, law, principles and science. Quran has nutrition and food security related clear messages. There are 64 nutritional keywords and 257 nutritional verses (Ayahs) are in Quran. The aliment, eating, water/drinking words, and their derivatives are repeated 171, 109, and 131 times, respectively. In Quran 19 plants are mentioned. Allah tells people that he feeds people, preventing hunger, and provides safety and peace, keeping them from fear. However, this condition of change in sustenance was associated in the Quran with various accounts related either to Allah’s management or to people’s works. Quran’s message is clear on breastfeeding, healthy eating, food safety and hygiene, distribution of food, availability of food and utilization. There are eight verses of the Quran on mother's milk. Breast feeding is mandated by Allah for two years which has been proven to be extremely important to the infant's in terms of body growth, intellectual development and enhancement of psychosocial bonding. Father is responsible for wet nursing to finance. Allah allows and orders people to care about food quality in all forms and stages of handling: from choosing soil for cultivation, storing pure food, to eating fresh food or using food wisely and food adulteration is prohibited. The recommendation would be to use information from Quran for better nutritional outcome at target Muslim communities.