الْخَلْقُ عِيَالُ اللَّهِ، فَأَحَبُّ الْخَلْقِ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ إِلَى عِيَالِهِ
Creation depends on Allah’s care and provision; most beloved to Allah is the one who treats His creation well.
Source: Bayhaqi.
Arabic word or phraseMeaning
الْخَلْقُcreation
عِيَالُ اللَّهِhere, those dependent on Allah’s care and provision
فَأَحَبُّso, most beloved
إِلَى اللَّهِto Allah; in Allah’s regard
أَحْسَنَtreated well
إِلَى عِيَالِهِtoward those dependent on His care
عِيَالُ begins with a kasrah. The word describes those who are maintained and provided for. Here it expresses dependence on Allah, not a family relationship. فَ means “so,” and أَحَبُّ means “most beloved.” مَنْ means “one who.” The ending in عِيَالِهِ refers to Allah, and إِلَى gives the relationship of treatment toward those under His care.