وَلا يَحُضُّ عَلىٰ طَعامِ المِسكينِ

And does not urge the feeding of the needy.

EXEGESIS

Yaḥuḍḍu is a trilateral imperfect verb derived from the root word ḥ-ḍ-ḍ and refers to urging, encouraging, and promoting something.‎‎^{‎‎‎[1]Raghib, under ḥ-ḍ-ḍ.} This could be either verbally or by action.

Miskīn is from the root word sakan and sukūn which means stability of something after movement. It is said that the miskīn (needy) is the one who does not possess anything and he is more needy than the poor (faqīr).‎‎^{‎‎‎[2]Raghib, under s-k-n.} Explaining the difference between these two terms, Imam al-Ṣādiq (a) is reported to have said: ‘Faqīr is someone who does not ask for help from others, however the situation of the miskīn is worse than the faqīr such that he requests for assistance from others.’‎‎^{‎‎‎[3]Kafi, 3/502.}

EXPOSITION

This verse mentions the second characteristic of those who deny the retribution. They are those who do not encourage feeding of the destitute. Although the Quran in many places discusses the importance of helping the needy, They give food, for the love of Him, to the orphan, and the needy, and the prisoner (76:8), and there is a share in their wealth for the beggar and the deprived (51:19), however, at times an individual may not able to assist others but is able to encourage and promote others towards helping. The traditions mention that such an individual would also have a share in the rewards given to the person who actually helps. In this verse the Quran states that there are individuals who not only do not assist the feeding of the needy, they also do not urge others to extend a helping hand to those in need.

Some‎‎^{‎‎‎[4]Alusi, 30/343.} have opined that the reason this verse mentions urge and not actually feeding the needy is because urging includes both practical encouragement by the act of feeding the needy personally, as well as the verbal encouragement in urging others. Others have mentioned that ṭaʿām (food) in this verse refers to the act of feeding,‎‎^{‎‎‎[5]Mizan, 20/426.} and this is how the verse is translated.

In this and the two previous verses, God draws our attention to the importance of providing emotional and psychological as well as financial support to those who are vulnerable in society, i.e. the orphans and the needy. The emotional support and caring precedes the financial help in this verse which indicates the order of priority and significance.‎‎^{‎‎‎[6]Qaraati, 10/575.}

INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS

1. Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he built not.‎‎^{‎‎‎[7]Job 20:19.}
2. They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.‎‎^{‎‎‎[8]Job 24:4.}
3. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.‎‎^{‎‎‎[9]Psalms 82:4.}
4. They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.‎‎^{‎‎‎[10]Jeremiah 5:28.}
5. The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.‎‎^{‎‎‎[11]Ezekiel 22:29.}
6. Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat, For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.‎‎^{‎‎‎[12]Amos 5:11-12.}

[1] Raghib, under ḥ-ḍ-ḍ.
[2] Raghib, under s-k-n.
[3] Kafi, 3/502.
[4] Alusi, 30/343.
[5] Mizan, 20/426.
[6] Qaraati, 10/575.
[7] Job 20:19.
[8] Job 24:4.
[9] Psalms 82:4.
[10] Jeremiah 5:28. 
[11] Ezekiel 22:29.
[12] Amos 5:11-12.