The Meaning of Allah’s Saying: “And as for the questioner, do not repel him,” and the Condemnation of Asking People
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The Shaykh : Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said: We return to completing the surah [Ad-Duhaa 93:9-10]. Who is the questioner? Is it the one seeking a ruling or the beggar? Yes, is it the one seeking a ruling or the beggar? The difference between them is: the one seeking a ruling is the one who asks you about a scholarly issue, and the beggar is the one who asks you for money. So, is the questioner in His saying: [Ad-Duhaa 93:10] the beggar or the one seeking a ruling? Please.
The student: He asks for money.
The Shaykh : He asks for money, meaning he is a beggar. Rest. Do you have a counter-argument?
The student: Only the one seeking a ruling.
The Shaykh : Ah, only the one seeking a ruling. Good. One more person, one more opinion.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Yes.
The student: Both of them together.
The Shaykh : It includes both of them together. May Allah bless you. Rest.
I will give my brothers, especially the students of knowledge, a useful rule. If the Qur’an or the Sunnah is equally susceptible to two meanings, and there is no evidence preferring one over the other, yes, and there is no contradiction between them, then it is obligatory to apply the text to both of them. I will repeat the rule a second time: If the Qur’an or the Sunnah is equally susceptible to two meanings, and there is no contradiction between them, then it is obligatory to apply it to both meanings. Why? Because Allah, Mighty and Majestic, knows what He intended by His speech. And as long as the speech is susceptible to two meanings, we must apply it to both. And so it is with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
In this verse, the questioner is susceptible to being the questioner of knowledge, and it is susceptible to being the questioner of money, the questioner of wealth. It is susceptible to this and that, and both are equally likely. So, His saying, the Exalted:[Ad-Duhaa 93:7] fits the opinion that the intended meaning of the questioner is? Say it, O students of knowledge: the one seeking a ruling, because he is asking about knowledge.
And His saying:[Ad-Duhaa 93:8] fits the opinion that the intended meaning of the questioner is the beggar, the one asking for money. And as long as the verse is susceptible to two meanings, and there is in it what supports and confirms this, what is obligatory? What is obligatory? To apply it to both meanings. Good, you are correct.
If a questioner asks you, saying he is poor, that he is a traveler whose means have been cut off during his journey, and he wants assistance, then it is obligatory for you, meaning it is prescribed for you, to give to him if you are convinced of his truthfulness. And if you have nothing with you, what do you say? Do you repel him or do you turn him away with a kind response?
The second option: I turn him away with a kind response. And for this reason, Allah, the Exalted, said regarding relatives:[Al-Isra 17:28] What is it? [Al-Isra 17:28] So, if he comes to you asking, saying, “I am poor, my means have been cut off, I am a traveler, I need a ticket, and the like,” if you have something and you are convinced of his truthfulness, give to him, for the upper hand is better than the lower hand. Otherwise, turn him away with a kind response; do not repel him.
If you know that this man asks for money to increase his wealth, and that he has what suffices him, but he asks in order to increase his money, then say? O brother.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Do you repel him or not? This is a person ... asking, and you know that he is rich and does not need money. Do you repel him or not repel him?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : I do not know what he will say.
The student: Do not repel him.
The Shaykh : Do not repel him? Rest. Good. Who will answer? Please.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Hm?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Good, rest. Every occasion has its own speech. Does this one who asks while he is in abundance commit a forbidden act or not? Yes, he commits a forbidden act. Any person who asks while he is in abundance has committed a sin, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1041. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed about the man who comes on the Day of Resurrection with no piece of flesh on his face due to his excessive asking of people.
And based on this, if this man is known to be rich but he repeats the asking, then I may repel him and say, “Fear Allah, be mindful of Allah. You are rich, how do you ask me when you do not need this?” This is permissible.
We are left with the questioner of knowledge. The questioner of knowledge asks, seeks a ruling, saying for example, “I performed six circuits and walked between al-Safa and al-Marwah, shortened my hair, and exited the state of consecration, and with me was my wife, so I went to my wife.” What do we say to him? Do we reprimand him and say, “How do you do this? You are a wrongdoer, you are disobedient,” or do we meet him with an open chest? Answer: the second or the first? The second, the second. And we have in that an example from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
(9) So as for the orphan, do not oppress [him]. (10) And as for the petitioner, do not repel [him].
فأما اليتيم فلا تقهر وأما السائل فلا تنهرAnd as for the petitioner, do not repel [him].
وأما السائل فلا تنهرThe student: He asks for money.
The Shaykh : He asks for money, meaning he is a beggar. Rest. Do you have a counter-argument?
The student: Only the one seeking a ruling.
The Shaykh : Ah, only the one seeking a ruling. Good. One more person, one more opinion.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Yes.
The student: Both of them together.
The Shaykh : It includes both of them together. May Allah bless you. Rest.
I will give my brothers, especially the students of knowledge, a useful rule. If the Qur’an or the Sunnah is equally susceptible to two meanings, and there is no evidence preferring one over the other, yes, and there is no contradiction between them, then it is obligatory to apply the text to both of them. I will repeat the rule a second time: If the Qur’an or the Sunnah is equally susceptible to two meanings, and there is no contradiction between them, then it is obligatory to apply it to both meanings. Why? Because Allah, Mighty and Majestic, knows what He intended by His speech. And as long as the speech is susceptible to two meanings, we must apply it to both. And so it is with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
In this verse, the questioner is susceptible to being the questioner of knowledge, and it is susceptible to being the questioner of money, the questioner of wealth. It is susceptible to this and that, and both are equally likely. So, His saying, the Exalted:
And He found you lost and guided [you],
ووجدك ضالا فهدىAnd His saying:
And He found you poor and made [you] self-sufficient.
وجدك عائلا فأغنىIf a questioner asks you, saying he is poor, that he is a traveler whose means have been cut off during his journey, and he wants assistance, then it is obligatory for you, meaning it is prescribed for you, to give to him if you are convinced of his truthfulness. And if you have nothing with you, what do you say? Do you repel him or do you turn him away with a kind response?
The second option: I turn him away with a kind response. And for this reason, Allah, the Exalted, said regarding relatives:
And if you [must] turn away from the needy awaiting mercy from your Lord which you expect
وإما تعرضن عنهم ابتغاء رحمة من ربك ترجوهاthen speak to them a gentle word.
فقل لهم قولا ميسوراIf you know that this man asks for money to increase his wealth, and that he has what suffices him, but he asks in order to increase his money, then say? O brother.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Do you repel him or not? This is a person ... asking, and you know that he is rich and does not need money. Do you repel him or not repel him?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : I do not know what he will say.
The student: Do not repel him.
The Shaykh : Do not repel him? Rest. Good. Who will answer? Please.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Hm?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Good, rest. Every occasion has its own speech. Does this one who asks while he is in abundance commit a forbidden act or not? Yes, he commits a forbidden act. Any person who asks while he is in abundance has committed a sin, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
He who begs the riches of others to increase his own is asking only for live coals, so let him ask a little or much.
من سأل الناس أموالهم تكثرا فإنما يسأل جمرا فليستقل أو ليستكثرAnd based on this, if this man is known to be rich but he repeats the asking, then I may repel him and say, “Fear Allah, be mindful of Allah. You are rich, how do you ask me when you do not need this?” This is permissible.
We are left with the questioner of knowledge. The questioner of knowledge asks, seeks a ruling, saying for example, “I performed six circuits and walked between al-Safa and al-Marwah, shortened my hair, and exited the state of consecration, and with me was my wife, so I went to my wife.” What do we say to him? Do we reprimand him and say, “How do you do this? You are a wrongdoer, you are disobedient,” or do we meet him with an open chest? Answer: the second or the first? The second, the second. And we have in that an example from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).