Feed the hungry, visit the sick, and arrange for the release of captives

Arabic text

عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «أَطْعِمُوا الجَائِعَ، وَعُودُوا المَرِيضَ، وَفُكُّوا العَانِيَ».

Translation

Abu Mūsa al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Feed the hungry, visit the sick, and arrange for the release of captives."

Explanation

The Prophet (ﷺ) clarified that among the rights a Muslim has over his fellow Muslim are: feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, and freeing the captive.

Benefits

• Encouragement of cooperation and mutual support among Muslims.
• Encouragement to feed the hungry who need food, as this is a commanded act.
• The legitimacy of visiting the sick—to comfort their hearts, pray for them, and attain reward, among other benefits.
• The importance of striving to free a captive if he is taken by the disbelievers—whether through paying a ransom for his release or by arranging an exchange of captives.

Topics

• Virtues and Manners
• Jurisprudence of Ethics
• Praiseworthy Morals