Returning favors recommended but not obligatory

8-12-2016 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaamu alaykum. If a brother does some favors for me and then afterwards wants me to help him with his work, would I be sinful then if I would leave him to go to a different place and get a different job based on the following hadith, if it were to be authentic?
"Whosoever severs the right of a Muslim by his oath, Allaah has prohibited him from Paradise and has obligated him for the Hellfire." It was said, "Even if it was a simple thing, O Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam?" He replied, "Even if it was a tooth stick!" He said that three times.

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Answer:

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

The hadeeth in reference was authentically reported and cited in Saheeh Al-Bukhari. However, it has nothing to do with what you mentioned in the question. You are not obliged to help this person with his work, although it recommended for you to help him if there is no impediment to it and you are able to help him, especially given that he made you some favors in the past. The Islamic Sharia urges Muslims to reward the kindness of people with similar kindness.

Allah knows best.