that would not be in his own interest (1), because securing the commanded person’s interest would harm the one issuing the command] (2)—as when someone instructs (3) a wronged person to flee from his oppressor, although helping him would bring harm upon them both or upon one of them. This is like the man who came running from the farthest end of the city and said (4) to Moses:

“The chiefs are conspiring to kill you, so leave. I am truly one of your sincere advisers.”

[Surah al-Qasas: 20]

That man’s interest lay in telling Moses to leave, not in helping him do so, for had he helped him, his own people would have harmed him.

Similar cases are numerous (5), such as someone instructing another to marry a woman whom he himself wishes to marry, to purchase an item he himself wishes to purchase, to rent a place he himself wishes to rent, or to make peace with a people from whom the other person benefits, although they are enemies of the one issuing the instruction and would be strengthened by the other person’s reconciliation with them. In such matters and the like, he does nothing to assist the person instructed, even though (6) he is sincerely advising him [by issuing the instruction] (7) and wants him to do it.

In short, instructing a person to perform an act because (8) it serves that person’s interest is distinct from the one issuing the instruction assisting him in it, if (9) he is in a position to assist [him] (10).