is the intelligent and resolute one who accepts this advice and pursues whatever benefits him in both his religious and worldly life.

This ḥadīth is momentous; a person should make it a guiding beacon for all his endeavors, spiritual and temporal. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Be keen on that which benefits you.” This phrase is comprehensive and all-embracing: “that which benefits you” includes everything of benefit, whether in religion or in worldly affairs. If a religious benefit conflicts with a worldly one, give precedence to the religious benefit, for when religion is sound, worldly life becomes sound as well, whereas if worldly affairs appear sound while religion is corrupt, all is in fact ruined.

His words “Be keen on that which benefits you” also indicate that when two beneficial matters are mutually exclusive and one is higher than the other, the higher benefit is to be preferred. The greater benefit subsumes the lesser and adds more besides, so it is fully encompassed by the injunction “Be keen on that which benefits you.”

For instance, if you must choose between maintaining ties with a brother and with an uncle who are equally in need but you cannot tend to both, you give priority to your brother, for that tie is better and more beneficial. Likewise, if two mosques are equally distant from you yet one has a larger congregation, choose the one with the larger congregation, for it is superior. Thus, when two benefits conflict and one is higher, the higher benefit is selected.

Conversely, if someone is inevitably forced to commit one of two forbidden acts and one is graver, he commits the lesser. With prohibitions, one opts for the lighter sin, whereas with commands, one chooses the higher virtue.