supporting the oppressed is obligatory.

In the two Sahīhs, Anas ibn Mālik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or is oppressed.”

I said, “O Messenger of Allah, I would help him if he were oppressed, but how should I help him if he is an oppressor?”

He said, “By preventing him from committing oppression; that is how you help him.”

Muslim narrated a similar report from Jābir. In the two Sahīhs, al-Barā’ ibn ‘Āzib, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

“The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded us to do seven things and forbade us seven things. He commanded us to visit the sick, follow funeral processions, invoke Allah’s mercy upon one who sneezes, help someone fulfill his oath, accept invitations, support the oppressed, and spread greetings of peace. He forbade us gold rings, drinking from silver vessels, saddle cushions, and wearing silk, qassī cloth, brocade, and heavy brocade.”

If someone who knows his whereabouts refuses to disclose them, he may be punished with imprisonment or otherwise until he provides that information. This is because he has refused to fulfill an obligation incumbent upon him that cannot be discharged by a proxy, and so he is punished as explained above. He may not, however, be punished for this unless it is known that he possesses the information. This principle applies consistently to matters handled by governors, judges, and others, whenever someone refuses to fulfill an obligation, whether in word or deed.

This does not amount to demanding that a man fulfill an obligation incumbent upon someone else, nor to punishing him for another person’s offense, such that it would fall under the words of Allah Most High:

“No bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another,”

or the words of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him:

“Take heed! An offender’s guilt falls only upon himself.”

Rather, that would be the case, for example, if a man were required to pay money that