Our Messenger (SWT), urged us to provide food to the poor and the needy to meet their needs from hunger and said (O people, spread peace, and feed them food, and pray the wombs, and pray at night, while people sleep, you will enter Paradise in peace).
Following the Sunnah to Feed the others
It is a well-known fact that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had always been keen to follow the sunnah of Allah.
He would always go out of his way to do what Allah wants from him and he would never shy away from any act that would please Him.
One such sunnah is that he used to feed others and in Islam, this has been made an obligation for Muslims. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was known to have said: “An individual should not eat until they feed someone who is hungry.”
It has also been narrated on his behalf: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let them not leave food without sharing it with someone who is hungry.”
hadith on feeding others
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is reported to have said, “Whoever feeds a fasting person will earn the same reward as him without diminishing in any way the reward of the fasting person.” This hadith encourages Muslims to feed those who are hungry, especially during Ramadan. Muslims should follow this Sunnah by feeding others in Islam by donating food or money to their local Muslim charity organization.
Allah’s Promise of Reward in the Quran
One of the most important deeds that a Muslim must seize its great reward is feeding food. The virtue of feeding food to Muslims has been mentioned many times in the Qur’an.
He is considered one of the people of faith who bring good tidings of Paradise because of the Almighty’s saying:
“Or giving food in a day of hunger (famine), * To an orphan near of kin, * Or to a Miskîn (poor) cleaving to dust (out of misery). * Then he became one of those who believed (in the Islamic Monotheism) and recommended one another to perseverance and patience, and (also) recommended one another to pity and compassion, * They are those on the Right Hand (i.e. the dwellers of Paradise).
The Holy Qur’an describes them as “the righteous” in the Almighty’s verse:
“Indeed, the righteous will drink from a cup [of wine] whose mixture is of Kāfūr, * A spring of which the [righteous] servants of Allāh will drink; they will make it gush forth in force [and abundance] *They [are those who] fulfill [their] vows and fear a Day whose evil will be widespread *And they give food in spite of love for it[1813] to the needy, the orphan, and the captive”.
The Prophet hadith on helping the poor and needy
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever feeds someone who is hungry will have his sins forgiven, and whoever helps someone to travel will have his sins forgiven.
“Feeding the hungry, giving food to the needy, and helping people with their needs are all good deeds that can earn us a place in Paradise.
Feeding people and from the commandments of the Noble Prophet to enter Paradise and escape from the Fire: “He who sleeps full while his neighbor is hungry does not believe in me while he knows about it.”
“Feed the food, pray the wombs, and pray at night while the people are asleep; you will enter heaven in peace.”
“Fear the Fire, even if it is by slitting a date.”.
Gain the Jannah of Ar-Rahman
The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, ’Worship Ar-Rahman, feed others, spread the (greeting of) peace, then you will enter Paradise with security (salam)’. [Tirmidhi]
On another occasion, he (saw) mentioned the food of Jannah as a specific reward for feeding the poor, saying: “Whichever believer feeds a hungry believer, Allah feeds him from the fruits of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection” [Tirmidhi]
In addition to this immense reward, Ali (RA) said that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, ’“Indeed, in Paradise, there are chambers whose outside can be seen from their inside, and their inside can be seen from their outside”. A Bedouin stood and said, “Who are they for, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “For those who speak well, feed others, fast regularly, and perform Salah during the night while the people sleep”’.
Shielding Yourself From the Fire
Just as giving food leads to Jannah, it also protects us from the Fire.
In fact, even feeding your family can carry this weight, as the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “Whoever has three daughters and is patient towards them, and feeds them, gives them to drink, and clothes them from his wealth – they will be a shield for him from the Fire on the Day of Resurrection.”[Ibn Majah].
On the other hand, actively denying someone food and preventing them from accessing it can lead to the Fire. The below hadith teaches us that even keeping an animal hungry is a weighty sin:
The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “A woman punished her cat by imprisoning it until it died of hunger, and because of it, she entered the Fire. It was said – and Allah knows best – ”You did not feed it nor give it water when you imprisoned it, nor did you release it and let it eat from the creatures which creep on the earth”’. [Bukhari].
Sadaqah Jariyah and Zakat
We tend to think of Sadaqah and Zakat as something we give to the poor, but the truth is that sharing food is always a Sadaqah, if you do it for the sake of Allah. In fact, the Prophet (saw) even said that feeding our own selves is considered a charity, subhanAllah!
The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “What you feed yourself is Sadaqah for you. What you feed your child is Sadaqah for you. What you feed your wife is Sadaqah is for you. What you feed your servant is Sadaqah for you.”. [Bukhari]
Therefore, it is important for us to always make the intention to cook, eat and share food for Allah’s sake, to ensure this action is spiritually meaningful and that we reap its rewards.
FAQ
What Is the Reward of Feeding People In Islam?
The reward for feeding people is the same as giving charity. The Prophet Muhammad said that if someone feeds a fasting person, then they will have their reward for fasting and the fasting person’s reward as well.
What Does Allah Say About Feeding People?
Allah says in the Quran: you who believe! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided for you, and be grateful to Allah, if it is Him you worship.
What Is the Reward for Feeding the Poor in Islam?
The reward for feeding the poor in Islam is immense. It is a great act of charity and one that will be rewarded with Allah’s mercy. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, Whoever feeds a person who is hungry will have his sins forgiven.
What is Nisab of Zakat This Year?
Nisab doesn’t change each year; it is always equal to 85 grams of 24k gold.
How Do You Calculate Zakat in Pakistan Rupees?
It is the value of 2.5% of your amount.
How Can I Calculate My Zakat?
You can calculate your zakat by using the zakat calculator on the Bonyan website.
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