A man came to me and asked me to request financial assistance for him from a specific party, so I advised him to refrain from this matter, and I refused to help him.

The questioner : That is to say, Shaykh, a man came to me now and said to me: I want you to help me, meaning in specialized departments that help with money, I want you to request for me. So I advised him that he must refrain from this thing and not request it, and that he should strive in his work and his effort and diligence until he gets married and builds... And I do not help you with this thing, nor do I strive for you in it; am I right in this?

The Shaykh : You are undoubtedly right in the advice, but this does not preclude helping him if you are able to. It was reported in an authentic hadith that a strong man used to come to the Messenger (peace be upon him) and ask him for some money, and he would give it to him. When he left his presence, he (peace be upon him) said: . Here, one must pause and reflect on this. This man asked while he was strong and not in need; therefore, he (peace be upon him) said: . If the asker is not in need, but perhaps the one in charge appears to be a lazy man, or such, and so on, who does not care about working to earn his daily sustenance and the sustenance of his family, so he advised him with the advice I mentioned earlier. Then, afterwards, even if indirectly, he sent him the assistance, thereby combining the two goods. When the strong man used to come to the Messenger (peace be upon him) and ask him, and he would give to him, when he left his presence, he (peace be upon him) would say: . They said to him: O Messenger of Allah, why do you give to him? This is a valid question. He said:

The questioner : The worst of people...

The Shaykh : Yes?

The questioner : Indeed, among the worst of people...

Another questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : What are you saying?

The questioner : Indeed, among the worst of people is the one who is given...

The Shaykh : No, rather it is that the Messenger (peace be upon him) used to say: ; as if he (peace be upon him) meant that the station of prophethood must be elevated above... Therefore, he gives to them. In a narration, he says: ; therefore, here we find that the Messenger (peace be upon him), as is said in the principles of jurisprudence, combined between repelling harm and seeking benefit. The benefit is giving this money. Repelling the harm is that people say: We asked the Messenger and he did not give us, and he is a stingy man who has the ability and did not give. This is, of course, not fitting. And if this statement were made, it would be injustice and oppression. But he (peace be upon him) places barriers and obstacles so that nothing unfitting is said about him (peace be upon him).