that both terms it joins share the stated ruling. What is stated is that none but these are entitled to receive charity; thus, they share in its being lawful for them. Their sharing in the stated ruling—namely, its permissibility in principle—does not mean that they receive equal shares, for the wording in no way indicates this.

The same applies to the wording of someone establishing an endowment or making a bequest. Someone once established an endowment for the instructor, the assistant instructor, the caretaker, the jurists and the students of jurisprudence. When its distribution was discussed, we said: “It should be distributed according to the interests served.” The instructor claimed a fifth on the basis of this assumption. He was told: “Then give the caretaker a fifth as well, since he is on the same footing as the instructor.” Thus, the invalidity of his argument became apparent.

Here it ends. Praise be to Allah, Lord of all worlds.