The charitable act of giving food is key to being a devout believer as well as a key aspect of Islam, worshippers will hear in the first sermon of 2017.
Prophet Mohammed said in his first speech at Medina: “O people, exchange the greeting of peace, offer food to people, honour ties of kinship and establish prayer at night when people are asleep so that you will enter Paradise in peace.”
In this Hadith, there is an indication that the act of giving food in charity is a cause for entering Paradise and one of the greatest deeds to God. This is because food is a basic need for sustaining human lives and their physical survival, according to the sermon.
In one of the Hadiths of the Prophet, a man asked the Prophet, “What Islamic traits are the best?”
The Prophet said: “Feed (the poor), and greet those whom you know and those whom you do not know.”
The charity in this regard is not necessarily only in the act of giving food, but another way of achieving this is by showing hospitality to guests.
In this regard, the Prophet said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should serve his guest generously.”
The sermon said that this can be done by meeting our guests with a smile, speaking to them kindly and offering food.
On another level, it is a duty for Muslims to offer food not only to their fellow human beings, but also to other living creatures, including birds and animals.
In this respect, it was narrated that the Prophet’s companions once asked him, “O Messenger of Allah! Is there a reward for us in serving the animals?”
The Prophet replied: “Yes, there is a reward for serving any animate (living being).”
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