ABSTRACT
Ensuring the well-being of fellow human beings is one of the fundamental objectives of Islam and enjoins the believers to set apart a portion of their income for societal welfare. Annual zakat (disbursement among the needy) is among the five basic duties for a Muslim and emphasised as the hallmark of the Islamic character of an individual in the Quran and Hadees (collection of the Prophet’s deeds and sayings). Feeding the hungry and needy is described as the noblest of acts. While Ush’r (tithe), fitra, valima (traditional part of an Islamic wedding), aqeeqa, and qurbani (recitations of Quran) are occasions for food distribution among the hungry, Waqf’s (inalienable charitable endowment), orphanages, and langars institutionalised regular feeding of the indigent along with providing shelter, education, and healthcare. Thus, the wider dimensions of feeding as a charity and a source of earning virtues in Islam will be explored and supported with case studies.
