is compelled by necessity to eat carrion, he is obliged to eat it according to the majority of scholars. If he refuses to eat until he dies, he will enter the Fire, for acts of worship cannot be performed without these necessities, and whatever is indispensable to fulfilling an obligation is itself obligatory. This is why a person’s spending on himself and his family takes precedence over other spending.

In the Sunan collections, Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Give in charity.” A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, I have a dinar.” He replied, “Spend it on yourself.”
The man said, “I have another.” He replied, “Spend it on your wife.”
He said, “I have another.” He replied, “Spend it on your child.”
He said, “I have another.” He replied, “Spend it on your servant.”
He said, “I have another.” He replied, “You know best what to do with it.”

In Sahīh Muslim, Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Of a dinar you spend in Allah’s cause, a dinar you spend to free a slave, a dinar you give in charity to a needy person, and a dinar you spend on your family, the one that brings the greatest reward is the one you spend on your family.”

In Sahīh Muslim, Abū Umāmah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“O son of Adam, giving away your surplus is good for you, and withholding it is bad for you. You are not to blame for keeping what you need. Begin with those you support. The upper hand is better than the lower hand.”

This explains the words of Allah Most High:

“They ask you what they should spend. Say, ‘Whatever is beyond your needs.’”

That is, the surplus. This is because a man’s spending on himself and his family is an individual obligation, unlike