They Give Food Despite Their Love for It to the Poor, Orphan, and Captive
tadabbur
Level: basic
akhlaq
td-057
وَيُطۡعِمُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ مِسۡكِينٗا وَيَتِيمٗا وَأَسِيرًا
— الإنسان 8
Verse: "They give food, despite their love for it, to the needy, orphan, and captive — 'We feed you only for Allah's sake; we desire no recompense or thanks from you.'" (76:8-9)
"Despite their love for it": They give food while loving and needing it themselves — giving from actual need, not surplus. This is true altruism.
"No recompense or thanks": They say this in their hearts — or rather don't say it at all since saying it implies condescension. Pure giving for Allah needs no words.
Lesson: The noblest giving is that whose intention is concealed and whose purpose is purely for Allah.
Source: Ibn Kathir (8/297); Al-Sadi; Al-Qurtubi (19/119)
Question: What does "ala hubbihi" (despite their love for it) mean in the verse?
Answer: They give while loving and needing the food themselves — not giving surplus but true altruism giving from genuine personal need.