Surpriseoftheweek Surprise of the Week Allah the Almighty says, “And they give food, in spite of their love for it (or for the love of Him), to Miskin (poor), the orphan, and the captive, (saying): “We feed you seeking Allah’s Countenance only. We wish for no reward, nor thanks from you. “Verily, We fear from our Lord a Day, hard and distressful, that will make the faces look horrible (from extreme dislikeness to it).” So Allah saved them from the evil of that Day, and gave them Nadratan (a light of beauty) and joy. And their recompense shall be Paradise, and silken garments, because they were patient.” [Qur'an 76:8-12]. The Salaf used to ensure feeding others and they placed it before many acts of worship, and it is equally rewarded whether you feed a hungry person or a good Muslim brother of yours. Hence, poverty is not a condition for feeding a person. Narrated Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (r.a.) that: The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “ Whoever feeds a hungry believer will be fed by Allah on the Day of Judgement from the fruits of Paradise, and whoever quenches his thirst will have his thirst quenched from the pure sealed wine of Paradise…” [Related by Al-Tirmidhi with a good chain of narration] In a hadith narrated by Salman Al-Farisi (r.a.), the Prophet (pbuh) said, “‘Whoever feeds a fasting person, will be recompensed with forgiveness of sins and salvation from Hell. He will receive the same reward as the fasting person without causing him any reduction (in his reward).’ (The Companions) said, ‘Messenger of Allah, not all of us can find something to feed a fasting person.’ The Prophet (pbuh) said, ‘Allah will give this reward to he who feeds a fasting person with a sip of milk or a piece of dates, or a sip of water. And Allah will make him who quenches the thirst of a fasting person to drink from my pond, a drink that he will never feel thirsty until he enters Paradise (where there is no thirst).’” [Ibn Khuzaymah & AlBayhaqi]