Living The Quran
From Issue: 645 [Read full issue]
Encourage Feeding the Needy
Al Haqqah (The Inevitable Truth) - Chapter 69: Verses 33-34
"He did not believe in God Almighty, and he never encouraged feeding the needy."
This is a person whose heart is devoid of faith and compassion. Thus, the only place fit for him is the fire. With a heart that has no trace of faith, he is ruined, like a barren land engulfed in darkness. He is below the level of animals, and indeed below the level of inanimate objects. Everything in the universe believes in God and glorifies Him, and as such they maintain their bond with their source of existence. This person, on the other hand, severed his ties with God, and therefore has no tie with the universe.
Likewise, his heart is devoid of compassion. A needy person is one who desperately needs compassion, but this one does not feel for his fellow humans in need. He does not encourage feeding them, which is a step further than simply providing the needy with food. It is a step that suggests a social duty that requires believers to encourage one another to undertake. It is closely related to faith, mentioned here after faith and given its value in God's measure.
Compiled From:
"In The Shade of The Quran" - Sayyid Qutb, Vol. 17, 228