Question: Respected Sheikh Aslam Aliakiam
I hope and pray that you are in best of health and Iman please pray for me and my family.
Friend of mine normally cooks food in Muharam and Rabiulawal and distributes it to poor and needy as sign of happiness and Isale sawab. Can he eat that food himself and his family?
Wasalam
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Answer:
To cook food for the poor and needy is a very blessed act indeed. The Prophet Salla Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam says in a Hadith,
إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ لَتُطْفِئُ غَضَبَ الرَّبِّ وَتَدْفَعُ مِيتَةَ السَّوْءِ
“Verily charity extinguishes the wrath of Allah, and prevents a bad death.”
In another Hadith the Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam says,
أَيُّمَا مُسْلِمٍ كَسَا مُسْلِمًا ثَوْبًا عَلَى عُرْيٍ كَسَاهُ اللَّهُ مِنْ خُضْرِ الْجَنَّةِ وَأَيُّمَا مُسْلِمٍ أَطْعَمَ مُسْلِمًا عَلَى جُوعٍ أَطْعَمَهُ اللَّهُ مِنْ ثِمَارِ الْجَنَّةِ. وَأَيُّمَا مُسلم سقا مُسْلِمًا عَلَى ظَمَأٍ سَقَاهُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الرَّحِيقِ الْمَخْتُوم
“Whichever Muslim clothes another Muslim who is need of clothes, Allah will cloth him from the clothes of Jannah. And whichever Muslims feeds a hungry Muslim, Allah will feed him from the fruits of Jannah. And Whichever Muslim quenches a thirsty Muslim’s thirst, Allah will grant him the the wine of Jannah.
However, there is no special or extra reward for giving Sadaqah or feeding people during the months of Muharram and Rabiul Awwal. Therefore if someone feeds the poor or gives charity specifically in these two months thinking that there is some special virtue attached to it, then this act of his will become a Bidat and innovation. If this is not his intention, then this act of his will be commendable. However, one should not specify these two months for charity, but should give charity throughout the whole year. It is permissible for him and his family to also partake from that food.
And Allah is All Knowing
(Ismail k 2/12)