أَو إِطعامٌ في يَومٍ ذي مَسغَبَةٍ

Or feeding [the needy] on a day of starvation.

EXEGESIS

Whilst the apparent meaning of aw is ‘or’, some have suggested that it can also mean ‘and’, and thus these verses are giving a collection of deeds that when taken together are considered as climbing the uphill path.^{‎[1]Furqan, 30/329.}

Masghabah (starvation) means extreme need for food; the root word saghb denotes hunger with fatigue.^{‎[2]Furqan, 30/329.} Others have interpreted it to mean the state of famine where people in general do not have food, and hunger is widespread.

EXPOSITION

Whilst feeding needy people in general is a virtuous act, the verse indicates that feeding when hunger is widespread such as during a famine, during which people tend to become greedier, is an even greater act of virtue that is equivalent to climbing an uphill path.^{‎[3]Mudarrisi, 18/122; Amthal, 20/222.} It is an act that requires much more sacrifice and tests the faith of man.

It is much more difficult to spend from one’s wealth during a time of famine and is also more praiseworthy, and hence why God praises this act in 2:177 and 76:8.

INSIGHTS FROM HADITH

1. It has been reported from Muʿādh ibn Jabal, that the Holy Prophet said: ‘Whoever satiates a hungry person on a day of starvation [famine], Allah will make him enter paradise on the Day of Judgement from a door from amongst the doors of heaven that only those will enter [from that door] who had done such an act.’^{‎[4]Tabrisi, 10/750.}
2. Muhammad ibn ʿUmar ibn Yazīd says: ‘I informed Abū al-Hasan al-Riḍā (a) that I have been inflicted with [the death of] two sons, and there remains for me one young son. So he (a) said: “Give charity on his behalf.” Then he (a) said when I was about to leave: “Instruct the child to give the charity with his own hands – bread, and the handful [of foodstuff], or anything, even if it is little – for everything by which Allah is intended, even though it may be little, after the sincerity of the intention in it, is great. Allah, the mighty and majestic says: So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it [99:7-8]. And He said: Yet he has not embarked upon the uphill task. And what will show you what is the uphill task? [It is] the freeing of a slave, or feeding the needy on a day of starvation, or an orphan among relatives, or a needy man in desolation [verses 11-16]. Allah, the mighty and majestic, knows that not everyone is able to free a slave, so He made feeding the orphan and the poor as being similar to that. Give charity on his behalf.”’^{‎[5]Kafi, 4/48, h. 10.}

INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS

1. And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment.^{‎[6]Ezekiel 18:7.}
2. Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination.^{‎[7]Ezekiel 18:12.}
3. Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment.^{‎[8]Ezekiel 18:16.}

[1] Furqan, 30/329.
[2] Furqan, 30/329.
[3] Mudarrisi, 18/122; Amthal, 20/222.
[4] Tabrisi, 10/750.
[5] Kafi, 4/48, h. 10.
[6] Ezekiel 18:7.
[7] Ezekiel 18:12.
[8] Ezekiel 18:16.