There are a number of tasks that Muslims are recommended to perform that may guarantee practitioner’s paradise. Some of this tasks includes prayers, reading of Quran, fasting and maintaining good relationship with relatives and friends.

But Islamic scholars have gone further to identify some other tasks that are believed to be even more rewarding and capable of gaining for one, direct ticket into paradise than all others. This most important task is feeding of the needy. This is a task that was very popular with earlier generation of Muslims but is now being neglected for weak reasons of difficult economic situation.

In various verses of the Qur’an, Allah (SWT) meted out punishment to be carried out by those who break certain instructions or rules; feeding of the needy is always included. For instance, if one breaks the fast of Ramadan deliberately, one of the punishment is feeding of 60 needy persons.

From the hadith, it is reported by Bukhari and Muslim that a man once came to the Prophet and asked him to tell him one deed that is most important than all others and the prophet (SAW) said ‘feed pf what you have and say the salaam to all, those you know and those you do not know’. This emphasizes the importance of the act of feeding the needy and it is recommended that those among Muslim who really fear Allah and are scared of his stiff punishment keep this trait of feeding very close to their heart.

Abu Hurayra also reported that he asked the prophet of Allah to tell him of a task that will guarantee him paradise and he replied him: feed the needy, spread the salaam and maintain regular visit to relations as well as stand up in prayer late at night and you shall enter paradise straight away. In yet another hadith, the Prophet is reported to have said, ‘worship Ar-Rahman, feed the needy, spread the salaam and you will enter paradise with peace.

Tirmidhi reported that the prophet (SAW) said; in paradise, there are rooms that one can see their inside from outside and watch the outside from the inside’ and one of the companion, Abu Malik Ash Ari was reported to have then asked, who are the people that will be given such rooms and on what deeds? To which the Prophet replied; those who always speak good things, feed the needy and pray hard late at night. Similarly, the Prophet is reported to have said that three people will enter the paradise for providing a needy person even with a piece of bread. It has also been reported that the Prophet has said: any Muslim that feeds a hungry person until he is satisfied will enter paradise and Allah will provide him the eater of Al-Maamur and whoever Clothes a needy, will be clothed by Allah on the Day of judgement.

Feeding as we have seen is thus a very important act taken seriously by Allah, his Messenger and his Angels. It is a very simple act that could guarantee one instant entrance into paradise. However, that which you intend to feed must be of good quality and of one likes as it is well said that; Allah will not give any of you paradise until you feed the needy from what you so like. And it must be from a good source (halal), and not from a prohibited source as Allah is pure and accept only pure things.

Culled from a pamphlet printed by WAFF and katuru Road mosque Kaduna