Explanation

The meaning in a few plain lines

This Hadīth shows the virtue of feeding fasting people. It encourages and recommends doing so by promising those who do so a reward similar to that of the fasting person without diminishing the latter's reward. This, indeed, is one of Allah's favors upon His slaves, for it encourages cooperation in goodness and righteousness and creates love and solidarity among Muslims. The apparent meaning of the Hadīth implies that giving even a single date to a fasting person is sufficient to attain the same reward as him. Therefore, we should be keen on feeding those who are fasting to the best of our ability, especially if they are poor and needy or if they do not have anyone to prepare food for them.