[Commentary]

The author—may Allah have mercy on him—said: Chapter: Attending to the Muslims’ Needs.

Needs (ḥawāʾij) are what a person requires to complete his affairs, whereas necessities (ḍarūriyyāt) are what a person is forced to obtain in order to ward off harm. Removing necessities is obligatory: if someone sees his brother facing a necessity, he must relieve it. Hence, when he sees him in pressing need of food, drink, warmth, or cooling, he is required to meet that need and to remove and lift the necessity.

The scholars even say that if a person is compelled to food or drink that happens to be in someone else’s possession, and the owner himself is not in need of it, yet withholds it after being asked and the needy person dies, then the owner is held liable, because he failed to save his brother from destruction.

If, however, the matter concerns a need that is not a necessity, it is still better to help your brother fulfil it and to facilitate it for him—so long as the need is not harmful to him. Should the need be harmful, then do not assist him, for Allah says, “And do not cooperate in sin and transgression” (Q 5:2).

Suppose, for example, that someone wants to smoke and asks you to help him by paying for the cigarettes, buying them for him, or the like. It is unlawful for you to aid him, even if he is eager and distressed for a smoke. Do not help him, because Allah says, “And do not cooperate in sin and transgression.” Even if he were your father, you must not assist him in this; and even if he becomes angry because you refuse to bring it, let him be angry, for it is anger in