نَوائب

نَوائب

Nawa'ib are the plural of nawaiba, a calamity or an extraordinary matter that befalls people. ¹ In the Hanafi usage the term can mean a rightful levy, such as one the imam imposes to equip the army or ransom captives when the treasury has no money, or an unjust exaction. ¹ Imposing a levy is obligatory when there is public benefit and the treasury cannot meet it, the jurists citing the Qur'anic command to strive with one's wealth and self (surat al-Tawba, ayah 41). ^{2 3} A permitted form is a fee for escort or guard that does not burden the people. ⁴ An unjust levy need not be paid, and Ibn Abidin held that paying unjust levies helps the oppressor. ^{4 5} Guaranteeing a rightful levy is permitted by Hanafi agreement, and the Hanafis differ on guaranteeing unjust ones. ⁶ The Hanafis allow one who pays another's levy with his leave to reclaim it. ⁷