This ayat translates to “he fed them as opposed to letting them starve, and he gave them safety as opposed to letting them live in fear”.

“Min” here is important because it signifies that if Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) didn’t intervene they would have died starving, and if Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) didn’t intervene they would have lived in a constant state of fear.

“Joo’” means “extreme hunger”.

This ayat is like the culmination of both surahs – Surah Al – Fil and Surah Quraysh. Surah Al-Fil began with security problem, Surah Quraysh went into the economic problem. Now as both surahs are being wrapped up, Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) is mentioning that he provided them food indicating that he took care of the economic problem and he provided them safety and security reminding them that he destroyed Abrahah’s army.

Divine provision and safety linked to the sacred house:

When we observe the sequence closely, Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) introduced himself first as the master of this house and then he mentioned that he protected them and gave them food replacing their hunger. This is important because Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) is telling them that the only reason he fed them and the only reason he kept them safe was because of the house. There were other people in this world that were not safe, that were not provided as Quraysh were provided. The other people could have been provided more but Quraysh had a higher obligation to do right by the house of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala), they were provided more.

The water supply of Makkah was from Zamzam which is a divine intervention. Their safety and security (destruction of Abrahah’s army, journey of winter and summer etc.) was also a divine intervention.

Fulfillment of dua of Ibrahim (alaihissalam) and preparation for Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam):

Thus, both elements of the dua of Ibrahim (alaihissalam) have now been answered. Both extreme hunger and fear have been removed. It was now the time for the third dua to be answered, the coming of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam).

This dua is answered about 40 years before the coming of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). It is as though Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) gave then 40 years to get ready for Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). In these 40 years, they should have been worshipping Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) in the way in which he should be worshipped. If they were not, then the coming of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) should have been a welcome thing for them, making it easy for them.

Address of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) to the Quraysh and divine criticism:

In this Surah, Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) spoke to them as a third person (Quraysh as a whole). It is an indication that Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) is not happy with them. He is talking about them, but not to them even though they can hear. In the next Surah, Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) opens up further on his criticism by getting specific like they were the biggest liars against the deen etc.