Al-Haqqah (The Inevitable Reality): Verse 33

The first part (referring to disbelief/not believing in Allah) points to the corruption of the rational faculty (al-quwwah al-'āqilah). The second part (not encouraging the feeding of the poor) points to the corruption of the practical faculty (al-quwwah al-'amaliyyah). Herein lie several issues:

There are two opinions:

1. It means he did not encourage the giving of the poor person's food (i.e., he did not urge others to give charity).
2. The word ṭa‘ām (food) here is used as a substitute for the act of feeding (iṭ‘ām), just as ‘aṭā’ (giving) is used in place of the act of giving in the verse:

   "And after your giving, the hundred al-ratā‘ [a type of gift/payment]."

The author of Al-Kashshāf states that the phrase, "nor did he encourage the feeding of the poor," provides two strong proofs regarding the gravity of depriving the poor:

1. It is conjoined with disbelief (Kufur) and made its counterpart.
2. The mention of encouragement (al-ḥaḍḍ) without mentioning the act itself implies that one who neglects encouragement is already at this low level; how much worse is the one who neglects the actual deed?

This verse indicates that disbelievers are punished for neglecting Prayer (Ṣalāh) and Zakah (charity). This supports our view that they are accountable for the secondary injunctions of the Law (furū‘ al-sharā’i‘).

It is narrated from Abu al-Dardā’ that he used to urge his wife to make extra broth for the sake of the poor, saying, "We have removed half the chain by having faith (Iman); shall we not remove the remaining half?"

Alternatively, it is said that this verse refers to the refusal of the disbelievers, such as their statement:

"Shall we feed those whom, if Allah had willed, He would have fed?" (Yā-Sīn: 47)