Ibn Zayd said,

“This means, will he not traverse upon the path which contains salvation and good? Then He explains this path by his saying,

{And what will make you know the path that is steep? Freeing a neck, or giving food.}"

Imam Ahmad recorded from Said bin Marjanah that he heard Abu Hurayrah saying that the Messenger of Allah said,

“Whoever frees a believing slave, Allah will free for every limb (of the slave) one of his limbs from the Fire. This is to such an extent that He (Allah) will free a hand for a hand, a leg for a leg, and a private part for a private part.”

‘Ali bin Al-Husayn then said (to Said), “Did you hear this from Abu Hurayrah?” Said replied, “Yes." Then ‘Ali bin Al-Husayn said to a slave boy that he owned who was the swiftest of his servants, “Call Mutarrif!” So when the slave was brought before him he said, “Go, for you are free for the Face of Allah.” Al-Bukhari, Muslim, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasal, all recorded this Hadith from Said bin Marjanah.

Ahmad recorded this Hadith from different routes of transmission that are good and strong, and all praise is due to Allah.

Allah said,

{Or giving food in a day full of Masghabah,} Ibn ‘Abbas said, “Of hunger.” ‘Ikrimah, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah and others all said the same. The word ‘Saghb’ means hunger. Then Allah says,

{To an orphan} meaning, he gives food on a day like this to an orphan.

{near of kin.} meaning, who is related to him. Ibn ‘Abbas, ‘Ikrimah, Al-Hasan, Ad-Dahhak and As-Suddi all said this. This is similar to what was related in a Hadith that was collected by Imam Ahmad on the authority of Salman bin ‘Amir who said that he heard the Messenger of Allah say,

“Charity given to the poor person is counted as one charity, while if it is given to a relative it is counted as two: charity and connecting the ties (of kinship).”

At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasal both recorded this Hadith and its chain of narration is authentic. Then Allah says,

{Or to a Miskin cleaving to dust (Dha Matrabah)} meaning, poor, miserable, and clinging to the dirt. It means those who are in a state of destitution. Ibn ‘Abbas said, “Dha Matrabah is that who is flung in the dirt.”

meaning, then, along with these beautiful and pure characteristics, he was a believer in his heart, seeking the reward of that from Allah. This is as Allah says,

Allah also says,

Allah says,

meaning, he is from the believers who work righteous deeds, and advise each other to be patient with the harms of the people, and to be merciful with them. This is similar to what has been related in the noble Hadith,

“The merciful people will be treated with mercy by the Most Merciful (Allah). Be merciful to those who are on the earth and He Who is above the heavens will be merciful to you.”

In another Hadith he said,

“Allah will not be merciful with whoever is not merciful with the people.”

Abu Dawud recorded from ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr that he narrated (from the Prophet),

“Whoever does not show mercy to our children, nor does he recognize the right of our elders, then he is not of us.”

Then Allah says,

{They are those on the Right,} meaning, those who have these characteristics are the companions of the Right Hand.

The Companions of the Left Hand and Their Recompense

Then Allah says,

meaning, the companions of the Left Hand.

meaning, it will be sealed over them and there will be no way for them to avoid it, nor will they have any way out. Abu Hurayrah, Ibn ‘Abbas, ‘Ikrimah, Said bin Jubayr, Mujahid, Muhammad bin Ka'b Al-Qurazi, ‘Atiyah Al-‘Awfi, Al-Hasan, Qatadah and As-Suddi, all said,

{Mu'sadah.} “This means shut.” Ibn ‘Abbas said, “Its doors will be closed.” Ad-Dahhak said.

{Mu'sadah.} “It will be sealed over them and it will have no door.” Qatadah said,

{Mu'sadah.} “It will be shut and there will be no light in it, no crevice (escape), and no way out of it forever.”

This is the end of the Tafsir of Surat Al-Balad, and sill praise and blessings are due to Allah.