Ibn Hibban

Sayyiduna Khalid bin ‘Adi Juhani (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: “Whoever receives some good from his brother without asking for it and without coveting it, then he should accept it and not return it, for it is sustenance that Allah has sent to him.” (Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says:) The command that we have been ordered to act upon is to take what is given to a person, and there are two specific things, in the absence of which (taking something from someone) is permissible for a person. Those (two specific things) are asking and coveting. So, for a well-off person who is permanently (well-off), if either of these two things is found in him, then it becomes forbidden for him to take the wealth given to him. This ruling is not for the poor person who is in a state of necessity. Sometimes it happens that it is permissible for a person to take what is given to him, even if there is an element of asking or coveting, and this is in a state of necessity. There are two types of necessity. Such necessity that occurs in the presence of (wealth), and such necessity that occurs in the absence of (wealth). The necessity that occurs in the presence of (wealth) is when a person owns many things of this world (but those things) are other than food and drink, and the person is in a place where food and drink are not sold at all. So, even though he possesses (wealth), his ruling will be that of a person in necessity. Whatever is given to him, it is permissible for him to take it. Even if that person is a beggar or has covetousness, and the necessity that occurs in the absence of (wealth) is obvious. It does not need explanation.