Bismillah,
Allah (swt) says, in Surah Ma’oon:
أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يُكَذِّبُ بِالدِّينِ
Allah (swt) says, in Surah Ma’oon:
أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يُكَذِّبُ بِالدِّينِ
فَذَلِكَ الَّذِي يَدُعُّ الْيَتِيمَ
وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَى طَعَامِ الْمِسْكِينِ
Translation: Have you seen the one who denies the Repayment? For that is the one who drives away the orphan, and does not encourage the feeding of the poor.
[Surah Ma'oon, verses 1-3]
Notice the connection here–verse one, the one who denies Ad-Deen, the Day of Repayment. And verse two and three? He drives away orphans, He doesn’t encourage feeding of the poor.
It’s not that he doesn’t feed the poor. It’s that he doesn’t encourage feeding the poor.
If you’re a Muslim, and you practice your five pillars, you’re giving zakah, and chances are it’s going to poor people (two of the eight categories of eligible zakah recipients).
But are you encouraging feeding of the poor?
This is something very serious we need to think about. It’s not enough just to feed the poor; Allah is linking denial of the day of Repayment, the greatest day that will ever be … with not encouraging feeding of the poor. So we all need to take a long, hard look in the mirror and ask the question:
Are you encouraging feeding the poor, and goodness in general?
It’s not that he doesn’t feed the poor. It’s that he doesn’t encourage feeding the poor.
If you’re a Muslim, and you practice your five pillars, you’re giving zakah, and chances are it’s going to poor people (two of the eight categories of eligible zakah recipients).But are you encouraging feeding of the poor?
This is something very serious we need to think about. It’s not enough just to feed the poor; Allah is linking denial of the day of Repayment, the greatest day that will ever be … with not encouraging feeding of the poor. So we all need to take a long, hard look in the mirror and ask the question:
Are you encouraging feeding the poor, and goodness in general?
What you can do:
- Start Giving Back. Find some community project–a soup-kitchen, a Feed The Streets (if you’re in Canada), a food-drive, clothing-drive … something, anything. This will, at least, get you to the level of helping the needy. Be consistent in it.
- Call Others To It. Tell your friends, your family, your relatives, about the cause and how they can help. Sometimes, you’ll be surprised at who helps out.
Wallahu ta’ala ‘alam.
Taken from "Tafseer Juz Amma by Muhammad Al-Shareef"
assalamu alaykum i tried to see the feed stuff that project un fortunately they are not in my town. but there are other ways. inchaAllah thanks for the reminder
Jazzakallah kheir for the excellent reminder sis! I haven't been doing enough of that lately.
Assalaam Alaikum,
We all forget about the soup kitchens and figure the 5 pillars are enough it seems. Thank you for this beautiful and thoughtful post sweetie. Love you!
ASA, thankyou sister. Surah Al Maun (neighborly Needs) is also a great reference for feeding the needy. But "encouraging" is such a powerful point. I may be poor, but perhaps I can encourage others to give who are more wealthy with my words and actions.
Singamaraja visit you