He said it was saddening that many were trivialising such a sacred month by calling for feasts and “mindless spending”.

“The commercialisation of such Ramadan buffets and what have you is as offensive as uncouth Muslims eating in public during the fasting month.

“It is best to ban such buffets and eat at home. Make your own home-cooked food and eat lightly,” he said.

Idris said fasting during Ramadan had no value if Muslims were obsessed with gluttony, which was against the spirit of Ramadan in the first place.

“Islam enjoins its followers to avoid gluttony, waste and extravagance. The Prophet Muhammad S.A.W said ‘The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach, for the son of Adam a few mouthfuls are sufficient to keep his back straight.’ If you must fill it then one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for air, the Prophet had said.

“Contrary to this teaching, some people eat and drink so much they become lazy and neglect to perform their terawih prayers, and even the mandatory ones,” Idris said.

He added that varieties and quantities in excess that are prepared for iftar and sahur buffets lead to waste.

He cited reports that showed nearly 9,000 tonnes of food being discarded daily during Ramadan.

“We have become so obsessed with making money and getting rich to purchase unnecessary goods, services and entertainment, that we neglect our duty and relationship with Allah.

“We forget that we are travellers on a journey to the hereafter. I hope Ramadan this year will be free from sinful practices and all would adhere to Allah’s call to attain Taqwa.”

Last month, Idris had also called for the banning of Ramadan ads that commercialise Islam

He said that such commercialisation of Ramadan has stripped the holy month of its spiritual significance and made it to become a desacralisation of religion.

Related story: Malaysia should ban Ramadan ads that commercialise Islam