The meaning of the saying of the Exalted: "And they withhold the small things."
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : They withhold what? First, let me ask: what is the small things? Brother.
The student: The cup.
The Shaykh : Good, well done. The small things are the cup in which food or water or the like is placed, and its synonym is the vessel. What does "they withhold the small things" mean? It means they withhold from the one seeking the small things lending it to him. A man comes to them and says, "O brother, I have guests and I do not have large vessels. I am asking you for vessels, and you have them," and he says, "No." Does this fall under the verse or not? Answer. It falls under the verse. Withholding the lending of the small things, and it will be returned to you, and it will also be guaranteed, because a loan is guaranteed by the borrower, meaning you suffer no harm. And you withhold this, which indicates extreme stinginess. Yes, if someone asked you to lend them the small things, but you know that he will break it for you, do you withhold it or not? You withhold it, because this is harm to you, and you are not blamed if you do not give it. But if a person asks you to lend him the small things, and you know that the man is trustworthy and nothing can happen to it, then it is not permissible for you to withhold it while you have enough of it. If you withheld it, you would fall under this verse.
And they withhold the small things
ويمنعون الماعونThe student: The cup.
The Shaykh : Good, well done. The small things are the cup in which food or water or the like is placed, and its synonym is the vessel. What does "they withhold the small things" mean? It means they withhold from the one seeking the small things lending it to him. A man comes to them and says, "O brother, I have guests and I do not have large vessels. I am asking you for vessels, and you have them," and he says, "No." Does this fall under the verse or not? Answer. It falls under the verse. Withholding the lending of the small things, and it will be returned to you, and it will also be guaranteed, because a loan is guaranteed by the borrower, meaning you suffer no harm. And you withhold this, which indicates extreme stinginess. Yes, if someone asked you to lend them the small things, but you know that he will break it for you, do you withhold it or not? You withhold it, because this is harm to you, and you are not blamed if you do not give it. But if a person asks you to lend him the small things, and you know that the man is trustworthy and nothing can happen to it, then it is not permissible for you to withhold it while you have enough of it. If you withheld it, you would fall under this verse.