Hadith Commentary: Feeding the Hungry, Visiting the Sick, and Freeing Captives

This noble hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (5649) contains three fundamental injunctions that form essential pillars of Islamic social responsibility and compassion. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) succinctly outlined these acts of righteousness that strengthen community bonds and demonstrate true faith.

Feeding the Hungry

The command to feed the hungry encompasses both voluntary charity (sadaqah) and obligatory alms (zakat). Scholars explain this includes providing food to the needy, supporting food distribution programs, and ensuring no member of the Muslim community goes hungry. Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes this act carries immense reward, as it directly preserves human life and dignity.

The comprehensive nature of this injunction extends beyond mere physical nourishment to include spiritual feeding through knowledge and guidance. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that the most excellent feeding is that which satisfies both body and soul.

Visiting the Sick

Visiting the sick (iyadat al-marid) is considered a collective obligation (fard kifayah) upon the Muslim community. Imam Nawawi explains that this visitation strengthens brotherhood, provides comfort to the afflicted, and serves as a reminder of mortality and the afterlife.

The benefits are reciprocal: the visitor gains spiritual rewards and reflection, while the sick person receives emotional support and prayers. Traditional scholars mention specific etiquettes for visitation, including brief visits, heartfelt supplications, and avoiding anything that might distress the patient.

Setting Free Captives

Freeing captives (itq al-raqiq) refers to liberating prisoners of war, slaves, and those unjustly imprisoned. Classical jurists discuss various means of fulfilling this injunction, including using zakat funds for manumission, negotiating prisoner exchanges, and paying ransoms.

Ibn Taymiyyah expands this concept to include freeing people from all forms of bondage - physical, mental, and spiritual. In contemporary contexts, scholars apply this to supporting those trapped in modern slavery, human trafficking, and unjust legal systems.

Interconnected Virtues

These three commandments are interconnected manifestations of true faith (iman). Al-Ghazali observes that they represent comprehensive social welfare: feeding addresses physical needs, visiting addresses emotional needs, and freeing addresses the need for justice and dignity.

The collective practice of these injunctions creates a virtuous society where Muslims actively care for one another's wellbeing, following the example of the Prophet (ﷺ) who embodied these qualities in his daily life and teachings.