Seeking help from people when in need

21-6-2012 | IslamWeb

Question:

As salamu aleikum, We are supposed to be patient and only ask help from Allah. However, if someone is looking for a job, for example, he most probably has to ask some human beings if there is anyone who can help him. Similarly, if someone is wronged, he may ask the help from an influential person to solve his problem. Could you please shed some light on being patient and trusting in Allah and only asking Him for help on the one hand and asking human beings for help on the other? JazakAllahu khair.
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

There is no doubt that a Muslim should dispense with the creatures; if he abides by this he would preserve his dignity and avoid being humiliated. It is for this reason that a Muslim is Islamically forbidden to ask people for help without a need so that they would not consider themselves as doing a favor for him.

‘Awf ibn Maalik may Allaah be pleased with him reported that among the things on which they made a pledge with the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was that he said to them: “Do not ask people for anything.” Then, ‘Awf ibn Maalik may Allaah be pleased with him said: “Thereafter, I noticed that some of those people who were present did not ask anyone to pick up even the whip for them if it fell from their hands.” [Muslim]

However, if the Muslim needs a help from other people, it is permissible for him to ask them for help because the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) allowed the Muslims to ask people for help when necessary.

Abu Moosa Al-Ash’ari may Allaah be pleased with him said: “When a beggar would come to the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) or that someone asks him for anything, he would say: "Intercede for him, you would be rewarded…..” However, having trust in Allaah and relying on Him is something required in all cases. Nonetheless, asking people at times of need does not mean that one has no trust in Allaah as this is considered as taking the permissible means. Taking the proper and permissible means does not contradict relying on Allaah as stated by the scholars may Allaah have mercy upon them who provided many pieces of evidence for this from the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ). For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 181333.

Allaah Knows best.

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