Virtue of Serving Food

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Serving food is one of the reasons for which Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, grants forgiveness.”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Having good moral behavior and serving food is part of belief.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘The best among you are those who serve food, offer greetings of peace aloud and perform Salat (prayer) when people are sleeping.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Ali (a.s.), would say, “We are a family who are commanded (by Allah) to serve food, send gifts to people and perform Salat (prayer) when people are sleeping.’””

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that serving food, offering greetings of peace aloud and performing Salat (prayer) when people are sleeping are reasons for which one may gain salvation.”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, loves (shedding blood of edible animals) for serving meat and food.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that of the most beloved deeds in the sight of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, is satisfying the hunger of a believer, relieving his suffering, or paying off his debts.”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, loves serving food and shedding blood (of edible animals for meat to serve for food).’”

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that certain prisoners of war were brought before the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. One prisoner whose punishment was decapitation had been readied. Jibril came to the Holy Prophet and said, ‘O Muhammad, delay his case for one day. 5 His case was delayed and others were dealt with until it was the turn for that man again. He had been readied and Jibril said, ‘O Muhammad, your Lord sends you greetings of peace, and says to you, “This man who is your captive serves food, entertains guests, exercises patience in difficulties, and relieves others of liabilities.’” The Holy Prophet informed the man of what Jibril had conveyed to him from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, and said, ‘I have decided to set you free.’ The man then asked, ’Does your Lord love this?’ The Holy Prophet replied, ‘Yes, He does.’ The man then declared, ‘I testify that no one deserves worship except Allah and that you are the Messenger of Allah, who has sent you for a truthful purpose as prophet. I will never deny anyone to benefit from my wealth.’”

“Ja’far from his father (a.s.), has narrated that the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Sustenance comes to a man, who serves food, faster than a knife goes into the hump on the back of a camel.’”

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, would say, ‘Of the reasons for the Lord, the Most Blessed, the most High, to grant forgiveness is one’s serving food.’”

“Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida (a.s.), would ask for an empty plate before having food. He would keep it on one side at the table, then pick up the best of food from each kind brought for him, place them on the empty plate, and ask his people to give it to destitute people. He then would read this, ‘. . . they have not entered the stage. . . .’ (90:11), and say, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, knows that everyone is not able to set free slaves, thus He has made a way to reach paradise, which is serving food.’”