Qur’an mentions feeding people as a quality of those who love Almighty Allah:
And they give (their own) food, in deep love of Allah, to the needy, the orphan and prisoner (out of sacrifice, despite their own desire and need for it),
(Surah Al- Insan Chapter 76: Verse 8-9)
(And say:) ‘We are feeding you only to please Allah. We do not seek any recompense from you nor (wish for) any thanks.
Not feeding the poor is a bad quality as can be seen from the following verses:
But (so is) man that when his Lord tests him (by providing him pleasure and comfort) and honours him and gives him bounties, he says: ‘My Lord has honoured me.’
(Chapter 89 Surah Al-Fajr : Verse 15-19)
But when He tries him (by afflicting pain and discomfort) and limits his means of sustenance, he says: ‘My Lord has humiliated me.’
No indeed! But (the truth is that after you gain honour and good fortune) you do not give honour and care to orphans.
Nor do you inspire one another (in society) to promote feeding the destitute (the poor and the needy).
You lay hand on the inherited wealth and devour it (yourselves and do not pay the poverty-stricken their due).
(They) will be in Gardens and will be asking one another,About the evildoers.
(Surah Al-Muddaththir Chapter 74: 40-48)
(And they will say:) ‘What has brought you into Hell?’
They will say: ‘We were not of those who used to offer Prayers.
Nor did we feed the poor.
And we indulged in vain activities with those who had cast themselves into vain activities.
And we rejected the Day of Reward and Punishment,
Until that (death) came upon us which was certain to come.’
So (now) intercession of the intercessors will not be of any benefit to them.
The Excellence of Feeding people from Hadith of Prophet (peace be upon him)
Hadith#1
Hazrat Abu Hurayra(Radiyallahu Anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace,said,
{Reported by Imam Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Hadith #517}
“Allah says: ‘I asked you for food and you did not feed Me. “
He (His slave) will say, ‘Lord,how could I feed You when You did not ask me for food and You are the Lord of the universe?’
He will say, ‘Do you not know that My slave so-and-so asked you for food and you did not feed him? Do you not know that if you had fed him,
you would have found that action with Me?…..
Hadith #2
Abdullah ibn ‘Amr reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Worship the All-Merciful and feed people.
{Reported by Imam Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Hadith #981}
Make the greeting common practice among you and you will enter the Garden.”
Hadith #3
Abdullah ibn ‘Amr(Radiyallahu Anhu) said, “A man asked the Prophet(Peace be upon him), ‘Which aspect of Islam is best?‘
{Sahih Bukhari,Kitab Al-Iman,Hadith #12}
He said, ‘FEEDING PEOPLE and greeting those you know and those you do not know.'”
Hadith #4
In a hadeeth reported by Abu Moosa Ash’ari (Radiyallahu anhu), The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said ,“FEED THE HUNGRY, visit the sick and free the captives”
{ Narrated by Imam Bukhari}
Hadith#5
Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,
{Narrated by Al-Bayhaqi,Al-Sunan Al-Kubra,Vol. 10,Pg.3,Hadith #19452}
“He who eats to satisfaction while his neighbour is hungry is not a mumin.”
