Al-Eethaar
(altruism) refers to the act of giving preference to others over oneself. However,
it should be known that altruism is of three types.
1.
The
prohibited type
2.
The
disliked or permissible type
3.
The
permissible type
The
first is the prohibited type: This is when you
give others preference over yourself with regard to what is legally obligatory
upon you, because it is not permissible to prefer others in what is legally
mandatory upon you. For example, if you have [a bowl of] water which belongs to
you that is sufficient for one person to perform ablution; and you and your friend
need to perform ablution. It is either your friend will perform ablution with
it and you will perform Tayammum or you will perform ablution while your
friend will perform Tayammum.
In
this situation, it is not permissible to give him the water to perform ablution
while you perform Tayammum because you are the finder of the water and
the water is under your control. In addition, it is not permissible to abstain
from using water and perform Tayammum except when water is nonexistent. So,
giving preference to others over oneself in Sharee‘ah obligations is unlawful
because it necessitates dropping of the obligation upon you.[1]
The
second is the disliked or permissible type:
This involves giving preference to others over yourself in recommended maters.
Some scholars disliked it while others permitted it. However it is better to
avoid it, without doubt; except when there is benefit in it.
An
example of that is to give preference to someone else over yourself with regard
to the first row in Salaah in which you were already standing. Some
scholars disliked this and stated that it is a proof that the individual is
averse to goodness and being averse to goodness is disliked.
This
is because, how would you give preference to someone else for a virtuous place
that you are more entitled to than him! Some scholars are of the view that it is
better to avoid it except if there is benefit in it such as if it were your
father and you are afraid that he may have something against you in his heart,
then you gave him preference to stand in your virtuous place, there is no harm
in it.
The
third is the permissible type: In fact, this
type may be recommended. It entails giving preference to others in issues that
are not religious in nature. For example, if you are hungry and have [a plate
of] food in your possession; and a friend of yours is also hungry like you; if
you give him preference in this situation you will be praised for this altruism
based on the statement of Allaah the Most High with regard to the description
of the Ansaar: “And [also for] those who were settled in al-Madeenah and
[adopted] the faith before them. They love those who emigrated to them and find
not any want in their breasts of what the emigrants were given but give [them]
preference over themselves, even though they are in privation.” [Soorah Al Hashr: 9]
The
manner they gave them preference over themselves was that when the emigrants
arrived Madeenah, the Ansaar received them with honour, respect and gave them
preference over themselves with their wealth to the extent that one of them
said to his emigrant brother, “If you wish, I will give up one of my wives for
you.” Meaning he will divorce her for the emigrant to marry her after the
expiration of her waiting period. This was due to the high degree of their
altruism towards their emigrant brothers - may Allah be pleased with them.
Source:
Sharh Riyaad as-Saaliheen, vol.2, p262-263, by Shaykh Muhammad Saalih
al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him).
[1] Another example is to pay for the Hajj expenses
of someone else when you are yet to perform yours – translator.
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