Disciplines for Providing Benevolent Assistance

لَا تَدْخُلْ لِأَخِيكَ فِي أَمْرٍ مَضَرَّتُهُ عَلَيْكَ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ مَنْفَعَتِهِ لَهُ قَالَ ابْنُ سِنَانٍ يَكُونُ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ دَيْنٌ كَثِيرٌ وَ لَكَ مَالٌ فَتُؤَدِّي عَنْهُ فَيَذْهَبُ مَالُكَ وَ لَا تَكُونُ قَضَيْتَ عَنْهُ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that you must not involve yourself in the affairs of your brother (in belief) where the harm of the involvement to you is greater than the benefit for him.” Ibn Sinan has said, ‘This can happen when a man is indebted heavenly and you pay all of your belongings to pay his debt, but his

يَقُولُ‌ لَا تَبْذُلْ لِإِخْوَانِكَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ مَا ضَرُّهُ عَلَيْكَ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ مَنْفَعَتِهِ لَهُمْ

“Abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), has said, ‘You must not provide the kind of Benevolent Assistance to your brothers (in belief), which is more harmful to you than its being beneficial to him.”

لَا تُوجِبْ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ الْحُقُوقَ وَ اصْبِرْ عَلَى النَّوَائِبِ وَ لَا تَدْخُلْ فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ مَضَرَّتُهُ عَلَيْكَ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ مَنْفَعَتِهِ لِأَخِيكَ.

‘You must not obligate your soul for others’ rights; you must exercise patience in difficulties; and you must not involve yourself in an affair where its harm to you is greater than its benefit for your brother (in belief).”