وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ ٱلْمِسْكِينِ 3
Translations
And does not encourage the feeding of the poor.
Transliteration
wa-lā yaḥuḍḍu ʿalā ṭaʿāmi al-miskīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who do not encourage or urge others to feed the poor and needy. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain this refers to those who neither feed the poor themselves nor encourage others to do so, representing a failure in both personal practice and social responsibility. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this absence of encouragement reflects a hardness of heart and indifference to the suffering of the vulnerable, which is a characteristic of those who deny the Day of Judgment.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Ma'un was revealed in Mecca during the early Islamic period and addresses hypocrites and those who neglect religious duties and social obligations. This ayah is part of a broader critique of those who claim faith while failing to demonstrate it through compassion and charity toward the poor, serving as a wake-up call to the early Muslim community about the importance of practical mercy.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'Whoever feeds a hungry believer, Allah will feed him from the fruits of Paradise' (Tirmidhi), highlighting the virtue of encouraging and facilitating the feeding of the poor.
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith is not merely internal conviction but must manifest through active care for the vulnerable and encouraging others to do the same. This ayah challenges believers to examine whether they are actively promoting welfare for the poor or passively neglecting this essential Islamic obligation.