We Feed You Only for the Sake of Allah
Sūrat al-Insān: the means of perception, the two paths, and those who feed for Allah's sake.
Occasion: Transcription of an Isha khatira delivered on 21 March 2026 Source: A transcription of a video khatira by Dr. Ahmed Abouseif — [Watch the original video on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNVKAPOECEs)
He opened with a supplication for the good of this night, the good of what is in it and what comes after it, and refuge in God from the evil of this night, the evil of what is in it and what comes after it; that God set right our religion, our world and our hereafter, prepare for us right guidance in our affairs, bless us in what He has provided, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire and from its causes in this world and the next.
He then turned to Surah al-Insān: ﴿هَلْ أَتَىٰ عَلَى الْإِنسَانِ حِينٌ مِّنَ الدَّهْرِ لَمْ يَكُن شَيْئًا مَّذْكُورًا﴾ ("Has there not come upon man a period of time when he was not a thing worth mentioning?"), then ﴿إِنَّا خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ﴾, "We created man from a drop," and ﴿فَجَعَلْنَاهُ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا﴾, "and We made him hearing, seeing."[1] He paused at this phrase: these are the means of perception.
Two paths
Then: ﴿إِنَّا هَدَيْنَاهُ السَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرًا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا﴾, "We guided him to the way, whether he be grateful or ungrateful." And: ﴿إِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَافِرِينَ سَلَاسِلَا وَأَغْلَالًا وَسَعِيرًا﴾, "We have prepared for the disbelievers chains, shackles and a blaze."
The righteous who feed
Then he recited the description of the righteous: ﴿إِنَّ الْأَبْرَارَ يَشْرَبُونَ مِن كَأْسٍ كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا كَافُورًا عَيْنًا يَشْرَبُ بِهَا عِبَادُ اللَّهِ يُفَجِّرُونَهَا تَفْجِيرًا يُوفُونَ بِالنَّذْرِ وَيَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا كَانَ شَرُّهُ مُسْتَطِيرًا وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا﴾. The righteous drink from a cup mixed with camphor, a spring from which the servants of God drink, making it gush forth; they fulfil their vows and fear a day whose evil is widespread; and they feed the needy, the orphan and the captive, despite their own love for it.[2]
He then recalled from Surah al-Fajr the rebuke: ﴿كَلَّا ۖ بَل لَّا تُكْرِمُونَ الْيَتِيمَ وَلَا تَحَاضُّونَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ الْمِسْكِينِ﴾, "No! Rather, you do not honour the orphan, and you do not urge one another to feed the needy."[3]
He returned to Surah al-Insān and recited what the righteous say: ﴿إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَاءً وَلَا شُكُورًا إِنَّا نَخَافُ مِن رَّبِّنَا يَوْمًا عَبُوسًا قَمْطَرِيرًا فَوَقَاهُمُ اللَّهُ شَرَّ ذَٰلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَلَقَّاهُمْ نَضْرَةً وَسُرُورًا﴾: "We feed you only for the sake of God; we want from you neither reward nor thanks. We fear from our Lord a day frowning and severe." So God protected them from the evil of that day and gave them radiance and joy.[4]
--- [1]: Editor's documentation: Sūrat al-Insān 1–2; the English renderings of the verses are the editor's. [2]: Editor's documentation: Sūrat al-Insān 5–8 (verses 3–4 are those on guidance and what has been prepared). The Qur'anic wording has «شَرُّهُ» ("its evil"), while the transcript has «شرُّهم»; the established wording was adopted. [3]: Editor's documentation: Sūrat al-Fajr 17–18. [4]: Editor's documentation: Sūrat al-Insān 9–11.