The Reward of Feeding the Fasting Person

Among the many encouragements in the Sunnah to be generous, one hadith stands out for the sheer magnitude of its promise. Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani (RA) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever provides iftar for a fasting person will have the same reward as the fasting person, without the latter's reward being reduced at all." (Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)

Read that again: the same reward as the person who fasted all day — without taking anything away from the faster's account. This is not a shared reward; it is a duplicated one. Allah's generosity is such that He gives the full reward to both the one who fasted and the one who made breaking that fast possible.

The Hadith in Full

What Counts as 'Feeding' a Fasting Person?

One of the most reassuring aspects of this hadith is what qualifies. The Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said in the same narration: "Even if it is with a date, or a sip of water, or a cup of milk." (Tirmidhi) The threshold for earning this reward is extraordinarily low — it is the act of providing the breaking of the fast that matters, not the size or cost of what is given.

• A full cooked iftar meal provided to a fasting neighbour or guest.
• A single date and a glass of water offered to someone breaking their fast.
• A contribution to an organised iftar table at a mosque or community centre.
• Donating to a charity that feeds fasting people in poorer communities.
• Sponsoring an iftar box distributed to workers or students who are fasting.

This Applies to All Fasts — Not Just Ramadan

The hadith uses the general word for a fasting person (sa'im) without restricting it to Ramadan. This means the reward applies whenever you feed someone who is keeping any valid fast — the voluntary fasting of Mondays and Thursdays, the Day of Arafah (9th Dhul-Hijjah), the six days of Shawwal, and others. If a friend or family member is fasting the Day of Ashura, providing their iftar earns you the full reward of that voluntary fast as well.

This creates a remarkable opportunity throughout the year. In a household where some members are fasting a voluntary fast and others are not, the non-fasting family member who prepares or provides the iftar is earning the same reward as those who fasted — simply through an act of service.

Practical Ways to Earn This Reward Every Day

A Deed That Multiplies Goodness Without Limit

What makes this deed especially powerful is the combination it offers: it is an act of worship (supporting another Muslim's fast), an act of generosity (giving food), and an act of charity — all at once. Scholars note that it also carries the spirit of strengthening community ties, which is itself a virtue the Prophet ﷺ encouraged repeatedly. For a deeper understanding of how charity works in Islam and the difference between voluntary giving and Zakat, see our guide to what sadaqah is.

The Prophet ﷺ described the generous person as being close to Allah, close to people, and far from the Fire. Feeding a fasting person requires almost no wealth — only the intention to give. Start tonight, start with a date, and let Allah take care of the accounting.