What are the types of food that could be given to the needy?
ما هي أنواع الإطعام؟
Charity in the form of sustenance is not restricted to lavish meals or specific types of expensive dishes. The Islamic Sharia makes gaining the massive reward of feeding others accessible to everyone by expanding the definition of what constitutes beneficial food.
لا تقتصر الصدقة في شكل القوت على الوجبات الفاخرة أو أنواع معينة من الأطباق باهظة الثمن. فالشريعة الإسلامية تجعل الحصول على الأجر العظيم لإطعام الآخرين في متناول الجميع من خلال توسيع تعريف ما يشكل طعاما نافعا.
1. Edible and Nutritious | كل ما يؤكل وينتفع به
Any food that is edible and nutritious qualifies for the reward of feeding the needy. Whether it is a full meal, a piece of bread, dates, fruits, or basic staples, as long as it benefits the hungry person and provides them with nourishment, it is highly rewarded.
كل ما يؤكل وينتفع به يستحق به المسلم أجر إطعام المحتاجين. سواء كان وجبة كاملة، أو قطعة خبز، أو تمرا، أو فواكه، أو مواد أساسية، فما دام ينفع الجائع ويمده بالغذاء، فهو عمل مأجور عند الله.
2. Water is Considered Food | الماء يعتبر طعاما
Therefore water is considered food in Islamic terminology. Quenching the thirst of a person or an animal is one of the highest and most beloved forms of charity.
Allah Almighty says: (When Saul marched forth with his army, he cautioned: "Allah will test you with a river. So whoever drinks his fill from it is not with me, and whoever does not taste it except a sip from the hollow of his hands is definitely with me.") Surah Al Baqara 2: 249.
فالماء طعام في المفهوم الإسلامي. وإرواء عطش إنسان أو حيوان من أعلى وأحب أشكال الصدقات.
لقول الله تعالى: (فَلَمَّا فَصَلَ طَالُوتُ بِالْجُنُودِ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مُبْتَلِيكُم بِنَهْرٍ فَمَن شَرِبَ مِنْهُ فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي وَمَن لَّمْ يَطْعَمْهُ فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي إِلَّا مَنِ اغْتَرَفَ غُرْفَةً بِيَدِهِ) البقرة 2: 249.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What qualifies as food for charity in Islam?
Any food that is edible, nutritious, and safe for human consumption qualifies. It does not need to be expensive or elaborate to earn the divine reward.
Is giving water considered feeding someone?
Yes. In Islamic terminology and based on the Quran, water is considered food. Providing clean drinking water to the thirsty is an immense act of charity.
Where in the Quran is water referred to as food?
In Surah Al Baqara verse 249, during the story of Saul (Talut) and his army, Allah refers to drinking from the river using a word derived from "food" or "tasting".