It has been reported that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.

It has been reported that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] once said to one of his companions, “O Thabit! Can you not free a slave every day?' 'May Allah make you prosper,' he replied, 'I do not have the (financial) power to do it!' 'Are you not able,' asked the Imam [a.s], 'to entertain four Muslims for lunch or dinner?' 'I am able to do,' replied the companion.

'By Allah I swear,' said the Imam [a.s], 'that is equal to free a slave.'[^5] 164 - وعن أبي عبد الله (ع) قال مَن كسا مؤمناً ثوباً لم يزلْ في رحمةِ الله (جلّ جلاله) ما بقيَ مِن الثّوب شئٌ، ومَن سقاه شربةً من ماءٍ سقاه اللهُ (جلّ جلاله) مِن رحيقٍ مختومٍ، ومَن أشبعَ جُوعتَه أطعمهُ اللهُ (جلّ جلاله) من ثمارِ الجنّة.

It has been narrated that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said: Whoever clothes a believer will remain in the mercy of Allah [M.G] as long anything of that cloth remains; and one who gives him a sip of water, Allah will quench his thirst with an exquisite drink (of Paradise); and one who satiates his hunger, Allah will feed him with the fruits of Paradise.[^6] 165 - وعن أمير المؤمنين علي (ع) أنه قال لأَنْ أُطعِمَ أخاك لُقمةً أحَبُّ إليَّ مِن أنْ أتصدَّقَ بدرهمٍ، ولأنْ أُعطيَه درهماً أحَبُّ إليَّ مِن أنْ أتصدَّقَ بعَشَرةٍ، ولأَنْ أُعطيَه عَشرةً أحَبُّ إليَّ مِن أنْ أعتقَ رقَبةً.

It has been narrated that Amir al-Mu'minin [a.s] said: Feeding your brother a mouthful is more loveable to me than giving a dirham in charity; and giving him a dirham is more lovable to me than giving ten in charity; and giving him ten Dirhams is more loveable to me than freeing a slave.[^7] 166 - وعن أبي عبد الله (ع) قال ما مِن مؤمنٍ يُطعمُ مؤمناً شبعاً إلاّ أطعمَهُ اللهُ (جلّ جلاله) مِن ثمار الجنّة، ولا سقاه شَربةً إلاّ سقاه اللهُ من الرّحيقِ المختوم، ولا كساهُ ثَوباً إلاّ كساه اللهُ (جلّ جلاله) مِن الثيابِ الخُضرِ وكان في ضَمانِ الله تعالى ما دام مِن ذلك الثّوبِ سلكٌ.

It has been reported that Abu 'Abd Allah [a.s] said: If any believer feeds another believer to full, Allah will feed him from the fruits of Paradise; and if he gives him a sip to drink, He will quench his thirst with an exquisite drink (of Paradise); and if he clothes him, Allah will clothe him with a green robe (of Paradise) and he will remain under the protection of Allah as long as a thread of that cloth remains.[^8] 167 - وعن أبي جعفر (ع) قال مِن أحَبِّ الخِصال إلى الله (جلّ جلاله) ثلاثةٌ: مُسلمٌ أطعمَ مسلماً مِن جوعٍ أو فكَّ عنه كُربةً أو قَضى عنه دَيناً.