Here we go again in the azislam.com, Islamic information center site. If azislam.com has discussed some articles like rules of mourning in Islam, importance of 40th day after death in Islam, and virtues of Ayatul Kursi in Islam, in this occasion, azislam.com will talk about some virtues of feeding the poor in Islam. But before we start it, don’t forget to read another azislam.com articles like benefits of grapes in Islam & effects of social media in Islam.
Every Moslem hope to get help from Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala. For example, when we are sick, we want to be given recovery and when we get poorness, we hope to get enough rizq from Him. But, Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala does not always gives us His help. Allah Ta’ala will help us, if we want to help others, too. As it is explained by Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam in the hadith below.
From Abu Hurairah radliyallahu said, Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam has said,
وَ اللهُ فىِ عَوْنِ اْلعَبْدِ مَا كَانَ اْلعَبْدُ فىِ عَوْنِ أَخِيْهِ
“Allah always help a servant as long as he help his brother.” (Narrated by Muslim : 2699, at-Turmudziy : 1930, 1425, 2945, Abu Dawud : 4946, Ibn Majah : 225 and Ahmad : II/252, 296, 500, 514. Asy-Syaikh al-Albaniy said : shaheeh)
From Shihaib (bin Sinan) radliyallahu anhu said, I has heard Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said,
خِيَارُكُمْ مَنْ أَطْعَمَ الطَّعَامَ وَ رَدَّ السَّلَامَ
“The best of you is someone who like to feed and reply Salaam.” (Narrated by Ahmad : VI/16and al-Hakim. Sy-Syaikh al-Albaniy said : Hasan)
Feeding the poor is a noble deed. It is very recommended by Islam. So that, there are some virtues of feeding the poor in Islam that we will explain below.
- Be one of believers
From Ibn Abbas radliyallahu anhuma said, ‘I heard Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said,
لَيْسَ اْلمـُؤْمِنُ الَّذِى يَشْبَعُ وَ جَارُهُ جَائِعٌ
“Not a believer if he is full while his neighbor is hungry.” (Narrated by al-Bukhori in the al-Adab al-Mufrad : 112, al-Baihaqiy. Asy-Syaikh al-Alabaniy said : shaheeh).
- Will be given the fruits of Heaven
“Whoever believers who feed other believer that is hungry, on the Hereafter Allah will give him food from the fruits of Heaven. Whoever believers that give drink other believer that thirst, on the Hereafter Allah will give him drink from the drink of Heaven. Whoever believers that give clothes for other believer, so they are not naked, on the Hereafter Allah will give him clothes from the jewelry of Heaven.” (Narrated by Tirmizi)
- Get the special door of Heaven
In a hadith, it is narrated that people who like to feed others, he will be provided a special door in the Heaven for him, where there is nobody who can enter except him and people who are same with him.” (Narrated by Thbarani)
- Get the shade of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala
Someone who like to feed others will get the shade of Allah Subhnahau Wa Ta’ala on the day of reckoning. “Three things in his self, later he will be shaded by Allah under His arsy in the day that there is no shade except His shade. They are wudu in the cold weather, come to the mosque although the day is dark, and feeding people who are hungry.” (Narrated by Abu Muslim al-Ashbani) [AdSense-B]
- Erase sins
Feeding feed is a social deed that can erase sins and bring blessings. It can also cause our repentance be accepted by Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala. Because a believer must complete his faith with social deeds, too. He has to help his brother who get difficultness. As the Prophet Muhammad Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “Not (perfect) faith of person who is full while his neighbor is hungry.” (Narrated by al-Baihaqi)
- Get rizq from Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala
By helping the poor, we will get rizq and help from Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala. In the hadith, it is said that Sa’ad expected that he has excess from other companions because he has great wealth, then Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said,
هَلْ تُنْصَرُوْنَ وَتُرْزَقُوْنَ إِلاَّ بِضُعَفَائِكُمْ
“You only get help and rizq because there is a cause of weak people from you.” (Narrated by Bukhari number 2896)
- Learn tawadhu’
People who like to feed the poor will be more tawadhu’ (humble) and he always feel enough. Because he realized that Allah Ta’ala still gives great wealth for him. It is as the teaching of the Prophet Muhammad Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam below,
انْظُرُوا إِلَى مَنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنْكُمْ وَلاَ تَنْظُرُوا إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ فَوْقَكُمْ فَهُوَ أَجْدَرُ أَنْ لاَ تَزْدَرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ
“See people who are under you (in the matter of wealth and world) and do not you see people who are above you (in this matter). So that, that thing will make you to do not underestimate the delight of Allah to you.” (Narrated by Muslim number 2963)
[AdSense-A]
- Allah Ta’ala will fulfill your needs
If someone always provides needs his brother (such as feeding the poor), then Allah Azza Wa Jalla will fulfill all your needs in the world and the Hereafter. His promise is right and He must be fulfilled for those who deserve to get His promise.
From Ibn Umar r.a., Rasulullah saw said,
وَ مَنْ كَانَ فِى حَاجَةِ أَخِيْهِ كَانَ اللهُ فِى حَاجَتِهِ
“And whoever try to fulfill the needs of his brother, then Allah will also try to fulfill his needs.” (Narrated al-Bukhoriy : 2442, 6951, Muslim : 2580, Abu Dawud : 4893, at-Turmudziy : 1426 and Ahmad : II/91. Asy-Syaikh al-Albaniy said : Shaheeh)
- Get a room in the Heaven
The Prophet Muhammad saw said, “Indeed in the Heaven, there are rooms where are part of the outside is looked from the inside and part of the inside is looked from the outside.” Then an Arab Baduwi stood while saying, “For whom those rooms, O Rasulullah?” The Prophet said, “For people who say right, feed, and always fast and pray at night in the time of human sleep.” (Narrated by Tirmidzi : 1984)
- Soften your heart
From Abu Hurairah radliallahu anhu, that there was someone who complained to Rasulullah saw about the hardness of his heart. Then he said to him,
إِنْ أَرَدْتَ تَلْيِيْنَ قَلْبِكَ فَأَطْعِمِ اْلمـِسْكِيْنَ وَ امْسَحْ رَأْسَ اْليَتِيْمِ
“If you want to soften your heart, then feed the poor and caress the head of orphans.” (Narrated by Ahmad: II/263, 387 and ath-Thabraniy in the Mukhtashor Makarim al-Akhlaq. Asy-Syaikh al-Albaniy said : Hasan)
- As jihad in the way of Allah SWT
Feeding the poor is an action to help the poor. It is similar to jihad in the way of Allah Ta’ala, someone who do qiyamul lain continuously or someone who fast without breaking.
From Abu Hurairah, Rasulullah saw said,
السَّاعِى عَلَى اْلأَرْمَلَةِ وَ اْلمـِسْكِيْنِ كَالمـُجَاهِدِ فِى سَبِيْلِ اللهِ وَ كَاْلقَائِمِ لَا يَفْتُرُ وَ كَالصَّائِمِ لَا يُفْطِرُ
“Someone who try to support widows and the poor, that is similar to someone who jihad in the way of Allah, someone who qiyam (build prayer) night without rest and like someone who fast without breaking.” (Narrated by Muslim : 2982, al-Bukhoriy : 5353, 6006, 6007, in the al-Adab al-Mufrad : 131, at-Turmudziy : 1969, Ibn Majah : 2140 and Ahmad : II/361. Asy-Syaikh al-Albaniy : Shaheeh)
- Get the Heaven
Rasulullah saw said, “There was an adulterer woman saw a dog in the heat of the day. That dog surrounded the well while sticking its tongue because he was thirsty. Then that woman took off her shoes (then drew water). She was forgiven because that her deed.” (Narrated by Muslim : 2245)
- Be the best human
The Prophet Muhammad saw said, “Indeed the best of you is someone who feed.” (Narrated by Ibn Sa’ad, AL-Hakim, Ath-Thabrani)
Thus the article about 13 virtues of feeding the poor in Islam. Indeed, there are many promises from Allah Ta’ala for those who feed the poor. Hopefully, we can be one of them. Amen. [AdSense-C]