Ramadan is a blessed month, where Muslims worldwide fast from dawn until sunset as part of worship to Allah Ta’ala. However, besides observing fasting individually, providing iftar (breaking the fast) to others also holds great virtue in Islam. The practice of offering iftar is not only a social act of kindness but also a highly encouraged act of worship in the Islamic faith. In this article, we will discuss the virtue of offering iftar in the month of Ramadan and its evidences as follows:
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1. Providing food is highly favored in Islam
Islam generally encourages its followers who possess wealth to feed those in need, as mentioned in the following evidences:
a.Hadith narrated by Abdullah bin Amr bin Ash radhiyallahu ‘anhuma:
أَنَّ رَجُلاً سَأَلَ النَّبِىَّ – صلى الله عليه وسلم – أَىُّ الإِسْلاَمِ خَيْرٌ قَالَ تُطْعِمُ الطَّعَامَ ، وَتَقْرَأُ السَّلاَمَ عَلَى مَنْ عَرَفْتَ وَمَنْ لَمْ تَعْرِفْ
“A man asked the Prophet (peace be upon him), ‘What Islam is the best?’ He replied, ‘To feed the food and to greet with salam those whom you know and those whom you do not know.’” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)
This hadith explains that feeding is one of the signs of the goodness of Islam in a servant.
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b. Hadith narrated by Ahmad and Hakim:
خِيَارُكُمْ مَنْ أَطْعَمَ الطَّعَامَ
“The best among you are those who feed (others).” (Narrated by Ahmad and Hakim; shahih)
This hadith explains that the best among Muslims are those who feed others.
c. Hadith narrated by Ibnu Majah and Ahmad:
أَفْشُوا السَّلاَمَ وَأَطْعِمُوا الطَّعَامَ وَصِلُوا الأَرْحَامَ وَصَلُّوا بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّاسُ نِيَامٌ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِسَلاَمٍ
“Spread peace, feed the food, maintain family ties, and pray at night while people are sleeping, and you will enter paradise in peace.” (Narrated by Ibnu Majah and Ahmad; shahih)
This hadith explains that feeding is one of the gates to paradise for a Muslim.
The aforementioned dalils explain that feeding others in Islam holds a high position and carries special rewards.
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2. Providing iftar holds special rewards in the month of Ramadan
Another aspect that makes offering iftar in the month of Ramadan a special act of worship is that Allah Ta’ala promises special rewards for those who provide iftar during this month. This is mentioned in the following evidences:
a.Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah Radhiyallahu anhu:
مَنْ فَطَّرَ صَائِمًا كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِهِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لاَ يَنْقُصُ مِنْ أَجْرِ الصَّائِمِ شَيْئًا
“Whoever feeds a fasting person will have a reward like that of the fasting person, without any reduction in his reward.” (Narrated by Tirmidzi no. 807, Ibnu Majah no. 1746, and Ahmad 5: 192. Al-Hafizh Abu Thahir stated that this hadith is authentic)
This hadith emphasizes that providing iftar to others will receive the same reward as the fasting person, without diminishing the fasting person’s reward. This shows the great virtue of providing iftar in Islam.
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b. Hadith narrated by At-Tirmidzi and Ibnu Hibban:
إن في الجنة غرفا يرى ظاهرها من باطنها وباطنها من ظاهرها أعدها الله لمن ألان الكلام وأطعم الطعام وتابع الصيام وصلى بالليل والناس نيام
“Indeed, in paradise, there are rooms whose outer parts can be seen from the inside, and the inner parts can be seen from the outside. Allah has prepared them for those who speak well, give charity (food), fast, and pray at night when most people are asleep.” (Narrated by At Tirmidzi no.1984, Ibnu Hibban in Al Majruhin 1/317, authenticated by Ibnu Hajar Al Asqalani in Hidayatur Ruwah, 2/47, authenticated by Al Albani in Shahih At Targhib, 946)
This hadith mentions that those who perform four actions – speaking well, giving charity (food), fasting, and praying at night – will receive special rooms in paradise where the outer parts are visible from the inside and the inner parts are visible from the outside. Ramadan is a time when the possibility for a Muslim to perform these four actions simultaneously becomes very high. Providing iftar is one way of fulfilling the aspect of feeding in this hadith.
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From these two dalils, it can be concluded that providing iftar in the month of Ramadan holds great virtue and is even promised a special chamber in paradise.
May Allah Ta’ala make it easy for us to perform this great act of worship in the month of Ramadan and make it a source of our goodness in the Hereafter.
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Wallahu a’lam.
References:
Quro, L. U. (2022, October 10). Keutamaan Memberi Makan Berdasarkan Hadits-Hadits Shahih. LAZ Ummul Quro. https://lazuq.org/keutamaan-memberi-makan/
MSc, M. A. T. (2017, May 19). 8 Keutamaan Memberi Makan Buka Puasa. Rumaysho.com. https://rumaysho.com/15838-8-keutamaan-memberi-makan-buka-puasa.html
