Never Refuse One Who Asks in the Name of Allah

Source: Sharḥ Kitāb al-Jāmiʿ from Bulūgh al-Marām by Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī
Translation: Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbd al-Salām bin Muḥammad Bhaṭwī

✦ Ḥadīth​

عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما عن النبى صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم قال:
من استعاذكم بالله فأعيذوه، ومن سألكم بالله فأعطوه، ومن أتى إليكم معروفا فكافئوه، فإن لم تجدوا فادعوا له.
[رواه البيهقي]


"Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
If someone seeks your protection in the name of Allah, grant him protection.
If someone asks you in the name of Allah, give to him.
And if someone does you a favour, then repay him.
If you cannot find anything with which to repay him, then make duʿā for him."
[Bayhaqī 4/199, Ḥākim 1/412, Aḥmad 2/28 & 99, Ḥilyah 9/56]


Imām Ḥākim declared it Ṣaḥīḥ on the conditions of Bukhārī and Muslim. Imām al-Dhahabī agreed, and Shaykh al-Albānī also affirmed its authenticity in al-Ṣaḥīḥah (254).

❖ Key Lessons​

➊ Value the Name of Allah in Requests​

• “...who asks you in the name of Allah, give to him…”
  
  • This emphasises the sanctity of Allah's name.
  • If someone invokes Allah's name while requesting, respecting this is obligatory.
  • A beggar has rights in general—but invoking Allah’s name elevates the obligation.

➋ If You Can’t Repay a Favour, Then Supplicate​

• As mentioned in other narrations:
  
  “If you cannot repay him, then make duʿā for him until you feel that you have repaid him.”
  [Abū Dāwūd, Ibn Ḥibbān, Ḥākim – with additional wording]
  
  
• Jābir (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
  
  “Whoever is given a gift and has something to repay it with, let him do so;
  and if he finds nothing, then let him praise the giver—for whoever praises, has expressed gratitude;
  and whoever conceals it, has committed ingratitude.”
  [Tirmidhī al-Birr 871 / Ṣaḥīḥ 1656]
  
  
• Usāmah ibn Zayd (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
  
  “Whoever receives good and says: جزاك الله خيرًا – 'May Allah reward you with goodness,'
  then indeed he has repaid (the favour).”
  [Tirmidhī al-Birr 88 / Ṣaḥīḥ 1657]
  

Saying "جزاك الله خيرًا" implies: “Your favour is too great for me to repay, may Allah reward you better than I ever could.”

➌ Granting Protection When Asked in Allah’s Name​

• “...Whoever seeks your protection in Allah's name, then protect him…”
  
  • Whether the person seeks refuge from harm by you or someone else,
  • once he seeks refuge in the name of Allah, it becomes a religious obligation to respond positively.

➍ Limits on Asking or Granting Protection​

• Only request what is within the creation’s power.
• Asking for what only Allah can provide (like forgiveness, paradise, children, etc.) from creation is shirk.
• Same applies to seeking refuge — only seek refuge in created beings for worldly matters they can manage.

✿ Summary of Key Rulings​

Respect the sanctity of Allah’s name when used in supplication or request.
Do not refuse someone who asks or seeks protection by invoking Allah’s name.
Respond to favours—if not materially, then with duʿā until you feel you’ve adequately reciprocated.
Avoid shirk by ensuring all unseen or divine matters are only directed to Allah.