وَلَا تَحَـٰٓضُّونَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ ٱلْمِسْكِينِ 18
Translations
And you do not encourage one another to feed the poor.
Transliteration
Wa lā tuḥāḍḍūna ʿalā ṭaʿāmi al-miskīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns the practice of those who neither feed the poor themselves nor encourage others to do so, representing a grave spiritual negligence. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as a rebuke to the wealthy who hoard wealth and lack compassion for the destitute, highlighting that the denial of sustenance to the poor is among the characteristics of those who reject the Day of Judgment mentioned throughout Surah Al-Fajr.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Fajr's description of the spiritual state of those who deny the Hereafter. The surah opens with oaths about the dawn and contrasts the fate of the righteous with those who are miserly and indifferent to the needs of the poor, establishing the theme that rejection of Allah's signs is accompanied by moral corruption and social indifference.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said: 'Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should feed his neighbor when he is hungry' (Sahih Bukhari 6018). Additionally, 'The best of people are those who are most beneficial to people' (Sunan Ibn Majah 4115), emphasizing the importance of encouraging and facilitating charity.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that indifference to the poor—both in personal conduct and in failing to encourage others—is a fundamental sign of spiritual corruption and denial of Allah's Day of Judgment. Modern believers should reflect on whether they actively promote charitable giving within their families and communities, recognizing that our faith is measured not only by what we do but by what we inspire others to do.