Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said: "Verily Allah, the Exalted, and Glorious will say on the Day of Resurrection:
'O son of Adam, I was ill but you did not visit Me.' He would say: 'O my Rubb (Lord), how could I visit You and You are the Rubb of the worlds? Thereupon Allah would say: 'Did you not know that such and such a slave of Mine was ill but you did not visit him? Did you not realize that if you had visited him (you would have known that I was aware of your visit to him, for which I would reward you) you would have found Me with him?
O son of Adam, I asked food from you but you did not feed Me.' He would submit: 'My Rubb, how could I feed You and You are the Rubb of the worlds?' Allah would say: 'Did you not know that such and such a slave of Mine asked you for food but you did not feed him? Did you not realize that if you had fed him, you would certainly have found (its reward) with Me?
O son of Adam, I asked water from you but you did not give it to Me.' He would say: 'My Rubb, how could I give You (water) and You are the Rubb of the worlds?' Thereupon Allah would say: 'Such and such slave of Mine asked you for water to drink but you did not give it to him. Did you not realize that if you had given him to drink you would have found (its reward) with Me?'" (Muslim)
Commentary: The person who is more beneficial to the slaves of Allah is loved most by Allah. Allah likes it very much if somebody serves His creatures and treats them well. Allah will give him the best reward for it. Here, one has been urged in an effective and eloquent way to visit the sick and treat the needy nicely by offering food and drink.
Riyaadiss-Saliheen
(The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Chapter 144, Page 272, No 896
