Hadith: MOST VIRTUOUS CHARITY is you satisfy a hungry stomach
Disclaimer: This hadith is taken from زاد الطالبين (Provisions for the Seekers) originally written by Shaykh Maulana Muhammad Ashiq Ilahi al-Bulandshehri in Arabic. Provision for the Seekers is the English version, with the translation and additional commentary by Mufti Abdur Rahman ibn Yusuf. No copyright infringement intended whatsoever. All rights belong to the publisher(s).
Original & Translation
أَفضَلُ الصَّدَقَةِ أَن تُشبِعَ كَبِدًا جَائِعًا
“The most virtuous charity is that you satisfy a hungry stomach.”
Note: This is a hadith from Bayhaqī in Shu’ab al-Imān.
Sentence Analysis (Tarkeeb)
أَفضَلُ is ism tafdheel and mudhaaf. الصَّدَقَةِ is the mudhaaf ilayh. Mudhaaf and mudhaaf ilayh make murakkab idhaafiyy and this murakkab becomes the mubtada. أَن is harf nasb masdariyyah. تُشبِعَ is fi’l mudhaari’ on baab if’aal and also has faa’il in it. كَبِدًا is mawsoof and جَائِعًا is sifah. Mawsoof and sifah make murakkab tawseefiyy and this murakkab becomes maf’ool bihi. أَن تُشبِعَ كَبِدًا جَائِعًا forms a jumlah fi’liyyah khabariyyah and this jumlah becomes the khabar. Mubtada and khabar form jumlah ismiyyah khabariyyah.
Definitions & Explanation
جَائِعًا means hungry.
كَبِدًا literally means liver. This includes feeding a hungry person, Muslim or non-Muslim, or an animal. Basically, any living thing that uses food/sustenance to live.
This hadith is talking about nafl (optional) sadaqah and not the fardh (obligatory) alms-giving which is called zakāh.
The amazing thing is that Allah (SWT) reciprocates the action of giving when you help another person.
Additional Note:
In addition to the disclaimer, please note that I have not created this information. Rather, I have shared my notes on what was taught to me by my reputable teachers as I am a student of the deen (religion) Islam. All thanks to Allah, the Most High. Any mistake, misuse, or misinterpretation of the teachings would be entirely due to my lack of knowledge. If you have any questions or concerns about these notes, please feel free to leave a comment below or reach me privately through my blog here or @hadithexplained on Twitter.
