said:

“No neighbour should prevent his neighbour from inserting a beam into his wall.”

Ahmad and others hold that allowing this use is obligatory.

If someone needs to channel water through another person’s land without harming its owner, may the owner be compelled to allow it? Scholars hold two views on this, both reported from Ahmad. Reports to this effect have been transmitted from ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb, who said to the man who refused permission: “By Allah, we shall make it flow, even over your belly!”

A number of the Companions and Successors held that the zakat due on jewellery consists in lending it. This is one of two positions within the school of Ahmad and others.

The uses of property that must be made available are of two kinds. Some are a right due on the property itself, as mentioned concerning horses, camels and the lending of jewellery. Others must be made available because people need them.

Likewise, making one’s services available is obligatory when needed, as with teaching religious knowledge, issuing fatwas, giving testimony, adjudicating disputes, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, jihad, and other personal services. There is therefore no impediment to requiring that the use of property be made available to those in need. Allah Most High says:

“Let not the witnesses refuse when they are called upon.”

And He says:

“Let no scribe refuse to write as Allah has taught him.”

The jurists hold four views on accepting payment for testimony, corresponding to four positions within the school of Ahmad and others:

The first is that it is not permissible under any circumstances.

The second is that it is not permissible except in cases of need.