Translation of the meanings Ayah 16 Surah Al-Balad - English Translation - Abdullah Hasan Yaqoub - The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

Ayah: 16

أَوۡ مِسۡكِينٗا ذَا مَتۡرَبَةٖ

16. Or to a poor person (down) in the dust8.

8. When people are starving, sick, or threatened, Allāh summons His people to be the first to provide food, medicine, and safety—all in Allah’s name. The Prophet rebuked some people for thinking they were being faithful with their fasting and prayers while ignoring the actual compassionate work the crisis required: sharing “food with the hungry,” providing “the poor wanderer with shelter,” and clothing “the naked”.
The Prophet Muhammad said:
Allāh will say on the Day of Judgment, 'Son of Adam, I was sick but you did not visit Me.' 'My Lord, How could I visit You when You are the Lord of all beings?' 'Did you not know that one of My servants was sick and you didn't visit him? If you had visited him you would have found Me there.'
Then Allah will say, 'Son of Adam, I needed food but you did not feed Me.'
'My Lord, How could I feed You when You are the Lord of the beings?' 'Did you not know that one of My servants was hungry but you did not feed him? If you had fed him you would have found its reward with Me.' 'Son of Adam, I was thirsty, but you did not give Me something to drink.'
'My Lord, How could I give a drink when You are the Lord of all beings?' 'Did you not know that one of My servants was thirsty but you did not give him a drink? If you had given him a drink, you would have found its reward with Me."
Allāh desires for the hungry to be fed—both physically and spiritually. And He works through us as He meets the need.