Some of life’s greatest lessons are not learned in classrooms. They are quietly woven into our lives by those who love us.

For me, one of those teachers was my grandmother, Henrietta Stubbs.

As a child, I can still hear her gentle but unmistakably firm voice whenever she saw food left on a plate or witnessed something being used carelessly: “Waste not, want not.”

To a young child, it sounded like just another saying adults repeated. It wasn’t until years later that I truly understood its meaning. If we learn to value what we have today and avoid needless waste, we are less likely to find ourselves in need tomorrow.

My grandmother had lived through times when money was scarce and every loaf of bread, every shilling, and every meal mattered in her homeland island of Turks and Caicos. Nothing was taken for granted.

Leftover food was never carelessly discarded; it was transformed into another meal. Clothes were mended instead of replaced. Purchases were made thoughtfully, not impulsively. I'm so grateful that she brought that wisdom into our Bermuda home.

Looking back, I realise she was not simply teaching us to save money - she was teaching us gratitude, responsibility, and contentment.

Years later, as I embraced Islam, I discovered that my grandmother's treasured saying reflected a principle deeply rooted in the Koran and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him).

Allah says: “Eat and drink, but do not be excessive. Indeed, He does not love those who commit excess.” (Koran 7:31)

In another powerful verse, Allah warns: “Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and Satan has always been ungrateful to his Lord.” (Koran 17:27)

These are sobering words. Wastefulness is not simply about throwing away food or spending recklessly. At its heart, it is about forgetting that everything we possess is an amanah - a trust from Allah.

Our wealth, our homes, our food, our water, our health, and even our time are blessings entrusted to us, not possessions to squander.

Our Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) a perfect example for us, embodied this principle in his daily life. He advised: “Do not waste water, even if you are at a flowing river.” (Musnad Ahmad)

What a profound lesson. Even when something appears plentiful, a believer is taught restraint and mindfulness.

Today, we live in a culture where excess is often celebrated. Supermarkets encourage us to buy more than we need. Fashion changes with the seasons, tempting us to replace perfectly good clothing. Perfectly edible food ends up in trash bins while families across the world wonder where their next meal will come from.

I remember in primary school of being mortified when some students would take their packed lunch, mostly sandwiches, and without hesitation, dump them into the trash can.

This excessive way of life leaves many finding themselves burdened with debt - purely from confusing wants with needs. Many have become compulsive consumers, addicted to spending - with money they don’t have most of the time; living on credit and worry.

Perhaps we need to recover some of the wisdom of our grandparents.

The habit of finishing what is on our plate, planning our shopping carefully, repairing rather than replacing (which would absolutely help the environment - adopting the motto of “replace, reuse, reduce”), giving away what we no longer need (sharing), and spending within our means are not signs of deprivation. They are signs of gratitude. They remind us that every blessing has value because every blessing comes from Allah.

Whenever I hear the familiar phrase, “Waste not, want not,” I don't just hear an old proverb. I hear my grandmother's voice. I remember her quiet wisdom, her careful stewardship, and the values she instilled long before I understood their deeper significance.

Sometimes I smile and think that, without realising it, she was teaching principles that Islam would later reinforce in my own heart.

May Allah make us among those who recognise His blessings, use them wisely, share them generously, and never waste what He has entrusted to our care.

“Then you will surely be asked that day about every blessing.” (Koran 102:8)

Perhaps that is the greatest reminder of all.

Looking back, I realise my grandmother Stubbs’ wisdom echoed a much deeper truth found in the Koran. Allah repeatedly (31 times to be exact) asks, “Then which of the favours of your Lord will you deny?” (Koran 55:13).

This meaning that every loaf of bread, every meal, every dollar in our purse is a blessing entrusted to us. To squander these gifts is to overlook the generosity of the One who provided them - Ar-Razzaq - The All-Provider, The Sustainer, The One who continuously provides for all of His creation.

This beautiful name comes from the Koran: “Indeed, it is Allah who is the Ever-Provider (Ar-Razzaq), the Lord of all power, the Ever-Mighty.” (Surah Adh-Dhariyat 51:58)

Ar-Razzaq reminds us that every blessing - our food, income, health, family, knowledge, opportunities, and even peace of heart; comes ultimately from Allah. He provides in ways we expect and in ways we could never imagine. Sometimes His provision is material, and sometimes it is guidance, patience, protection, or contentment.

Bermuda be blessed and remember: “Waste not; want not.”

As salaam alaikum (peace be unto you).

• Linda Walia Ming is a member of the Bermuda Hijab Dawah Team, a group of Muslim women who reside in Bermuda and have a goal of educating the community about the religion of Islam