Is it permissible for one who has traveled to Yemen to seek knowledge to ask for financial support for his journey?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : The truth is, we are two young men who are about to travel to Yemen to seek knowledge from Shaykh Mubarak.
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed
The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah bless him, we need some financial support.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : I do not know of anyone to ask, but why do you not work here and provide for yourselves, thereby saving yourselves the trouble of asking others? This is more honorable for you and better for you than extending your hands to people under the pretext that we want to seek knowledge. The upper hand is better than the lower hand; the upper hand is the one that gives, and the lower hand is the one that takes. Therefore, this hadith alone is sufficient for you to know that it is not permissible for the hand of the one who lends to be above your hand.[Qaf 50:37] Perhaps you are now satisfied with asking.
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed
The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah bless him, we need some financial support.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : I do not know of anyone to ask, but why do you not work here and provide for yourselves, thereby saving yourselves the trouble of asking others? This is more honorable for you and better for you than extending your hands to people under the pretext that we want to seek knowledge. The upper hand is better than the lower hand; the upper hand is the one that gives, and the lower hand is the one that takes. Therefore, this hadith alone is sufficient for you to know that it is not permissible for the hand of the one who lends to be above your hand.