Fulfilling Others’ Needs is a Higher Level of Humanity

FULFILLING OTHERS’ NEEDS IS A HIGHER LEVEL OF HUMANITY If feeding oneself serves the interests of this world, then feeding others serves the interests of existence in the Hereafter. It raises man to a higher level of humanity. T he Quran shows one aspect of God’s desired people as being their willingness to give food— despite their love for it—to the poor and orphans and captives (76:8). Moreover, the Quran tells us that in the Hereafter, when the people of hell are asked what it was that brought them to hell, one reason they will give is this: “We didn’t feed the poor.” (74:44) In such verses the act of feeding the poor is symbolic. This means that according to Islam it is a must for everyone, that whenever he sees anyone thirsty and hungry, he should give him food and drink. He should fulfil his needs. Feeding others or fulfilling their needs is without