For the Sacred Law revolves around the words of Allah Most High: “So fear Allah as much as you are able” [al-Taghābun 64:16], which explain His words: “Fear Allah as He deserves to be feared” [Āl Imrān 3:102]; and around the words of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: “When I command you to do something, do as much of it as you are able.” It is recorded by both al-Bukhārī and Muslim in their Sahih collections (1).

It is also founded on the principle that benefits must be secured and perfected, while harms must be eliminated (2) or minimized. When they conflict, what the Sacred Law prescribes is to secure the greater of two benefits at the expense of the lesser, and to avert the greater of two harms while bearing the lesser.

The one who assists in sin and transgression is the person who assists an oppressor in his oppression. By contrast, one who assists the wronged person in lessening the injustice inflicted upon him or in meeting the wrongful demand imposed upon him is the wronged person’s agent, not (3) the oppressor’s agent (4). He is like someone who lends him the money or acts as his agent in conveying it to the oppressor.