The Meaning of the Rule: (Averting Harms Takes Precedence Over Attaining Benefits)

Question:
This questioner says, O Shaykh: The scholars say in their discourse: "Averting harms takes precedence over attaining benefits," and other such rules. What is meant by these rules? And who established them? Was it the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or did the scholars derive them?

Answer:
The scholars derived them from the evidence, from the scriptural evidence. So a person averting a harm is greater than his attaining a benefit that he imagines and supposes. If his meeting with Zayd or 'Amr leads to evil, he leaves off this meeting from which he fears evil, even if he hopes for a benefit in it, such as that he gives him money, or prays for him, or the like. But if it leads to a bad opinion, that he is thought to be evil, that this man whom he loves to meet is known for evil, or for drinking intoxicants, or for engaging in what Allah has forbidden, such as sodomy, or the like, he keeps away from what he suspects of evil for his sake.
Likewise, if his dealing in a certain commodity brings him evil, he keeps away from it. And so, if his going to one of the neighborhoods brings evil, he keeps away, even if there is a benefit in it... visiting a sick person, or giving charity to someone, as long as entering this neighborhood entails being accused of evil and corruption, he does not go. Averting the harm takes precedence over the benefit, and so on, and the like.