Comparative study of the eighth verse of Ensan Surah from the viewpoint of Faryqeyn

Various interpretations has been made by different Islamic sects commentators about the eighth verse of Ensan Surah: "those who feed the poor and the orphan and the prisoners of war "(Ensan, 8). Most of the debates regarding this Surah refer to the reason for its revelation. Shiites only related it to the Twelve Imams or Ahul-bayt (alaihem assalaam) citing certain reasons from inside the text and outside the text and reasoned that no general audience can be acceptable as the referent of this verse and Surah. In contrast, commentators from Ahul Sunnah (Sunni) sects have no consensus about this, some of them like Sayyid Qutb, Ahul-bayt absolutely refused to accept that the verse can refer to Ahul-bayt (alaihem assalaam) and cite several reasons from inside the text and outside the text to support their position. Others, refer it to specific persons, yet they refer it to charity done by Abu Bakr and Umar, and some of the immigrants. The other groups, while accepting that in the common terms, it is associated with Ahul-beyt (alaihem assalaam), reason that it is not specific to them. The main argument against its exclusive reference to Ahul-bayt (alaihem assalaam) is to assign it to other people or concepts, which will be shown to be rejected in this paper.