In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
Imam al-Nawawi records in his book Meadows of the Righteous:
باب القناعة والعَفاف والاقتصاد في المعيشة والإنفاق وذم السؤال من غير ضرورة
Chapter on contentment, chastity, moderation in living and spending, and the condemnation of begging without necessity.
Source: Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn 1/180
Allah Almighty said:
وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا كُلٌّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ
There is no moving creature on earth whose provision is not guaranteed by Allah. And He knows where it lives and where it is laid to rest. All is written in a perfect Record.
Surat Hud 11:6
And Allah said:
لِلْفُقَرَاءِ الَّذِينَ أُحْصِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ضَرْبًا فِي الْأَرْضِ يَحْسَبُهُمُ الْجَاهِلُ أَغْنِيَاءَ مِنَ التَّعَفُّفِ تَعْرِفُهُم بِسِيمَاهُمْ لَا يَسْأَلُونَ النَّاسَ إِلْحَافًا وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ
Charity is for the needy who are too engaged in the cause of Allah to move about in the land for work. Those unfamiliar with their situation will think they are not in need of charity because they do not beg. You can recognize them by their appearance. They do not beg people persistently. Whatever you give in charity is certainly well known to Allah.
Surat al-Baqarah 2:273
And Allah said:
وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا أَنفَقُوا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا وَلَمْ يَقْتُرُوا وَكَانَ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ قَوَامًا
They are those who spend neither wastefully nor stingily, but moderately in between.
Surat al-Furqan 25:67
And Allah said:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ مَا أُرِيدُ مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَن يُطْعِمُونِ
I did not create jinn and humans except to worship Me. I seek no provision from them, nor do I need them to feed Me.
Surat al-Dhariyat 51:56-57
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لَيْسَ الْغِنَى عَنْ كَثْرَةِ الْعَرَضِ، وَلَكِنَّ الْغِنَى غِنَى النَّفْسِ
Wealth is not in having many possessions. Rather, true wealth is the richness of the soul.
Source: Sahih Bukhari 6081, Grade: Sahih
Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَرُزِقَ كَفَافًا وَقَنَّعَهُ اللَّهُ بِمَا آتَاهُ
He has succeeded who embraced Islam, whose provision is sufficient, and whom Allah has made content with what He has given him.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1054, Grade: Sahih
Hakim ibn Hizam reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِنَّ هَذَا الْمَالَ خَضِرَةٌ حُلْوَةٌ فَمَنْ أَخَذَهُ بِطِيبِ نَفْسٍ بُورِكَ لَهُ فِيهِ وَمَنْ أَخَذَهُ بِإِشْرَافِ نَفْسٍ لَمْ يُبَارَكْ لَهُ فِيهِ وَكَانَ كَالَّذِي يَأْكُلُ وَلَا يَشْبَعُ وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنْ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى
Verily, this wealth is green and sweet. Whoever receives it with a pure soul will be blessed in it. Whoever receives it with a selfish soul will not be blessed in it, for he is like one who eats and is not satiated. The upper hand is better than the lower hand.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1472, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Hakim ibn Hizam reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
الْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ وَخَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَمَنْ يَسْتَعْفِفْ يُعِفَّهُ اللهُ وَمَنْ يَسْتَغْنِ يُغْنِهِ اللهُ
The upper hand is better than the lower hand. Begin by giving to your dependents. The best charity is given by the rich. Whoever seeks to abstain from begging, Allah will make him abstain. Whoever seeks to be independent of others, Allah will make him independent.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1427, Grade: Sahih
Mu’awiyah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لَا تُلْحِفُوا فِي الْمَسْأَلَةِ فَوَاللَّهِ لَا يَسْأَلُنِي أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ شَيْئًا فَتُخْرِجَ لَهُ مَسْأَلَتُهُ مِنِّي شَيْئًا وَأَنَا لَهُ كَارِهٌ فَيُبَارَكَ لَهُ فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتُهُ
Do not be persistent in begging. By Allah, if one of you asks me for something and I bring out what he asked for and give it to him unwillingly, there is no blessing in it.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1038, Grade: Sahih
‘Awf ibn Malik reported: We were with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, while there were seven, or eight, or nine of us and the Prophet said:
أَلَا تُبَايِعُونَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
Will you not give your pledge of allegiance to the Messenger of Allah?
Someone said, “O Messenger of Allah, we have already given you our pledge, so what are we pledging to now?” The Prophet said:
أَنْ تَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا وَتُصَلُّوا الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسَ وَتَسْمَعُوا وَتُطِيعُوا وَلَا تَسْأَلُوا النَّاسَ شَيْئًا
That you worship Allah and do not associate any partners with Him, that you pray for five prayers, that you listen and obey, and that you do not ask people for anything.
Source: Sahih Muslim 1043, Grade: Sahih
Ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَا يَزَالُ الرَّجُلُ يَسْأَلُ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ لَيْسَ فِي وَجْهِهِ مُزْعَةُ لَحْمٍ
A man continues to beg people until he will come on the Day of Resurrection without any flesh on his face.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1474, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
الْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنْ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا الْمُنْفِقَةُ وَالسُّفْلَى السَّائِلَةُ
The upper hand is better than the lower hand. The upper hand is one that gives and the lower hand is one that takes
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1429, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَنْ سَأَلَ النَّاسَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ تَكَثُّرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَسْأَلُ جَمْرًا فَلْيَسْتَقِلَّ أَوْ لِيَسْتَكْثِرْ
Whoever begs people for wealth in order to accumulate more riches, he is only asking for a hot coal from Hellfire. Let him ask for a little or a lot.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1041, Grade: Sahih
Samurah ibn Jundub reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
الْمَسَائِلُ كُدُوحٌ يَكْدَحُ بِهَا الرَّجُلُ وَجْهَهُ فَمَنْ شَاءَ أَبْقَى عَلَى وَجْهِهِ وَمَنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَسْأَلَ الرَّجُلُ ذَا سُلْطَانٍ أَوْ فِي أَمْرٍ لَا يَجِدُ مِنْهُ بُدًّا
Acts of begging are lacerations with which a man disfigures his face. Whoever wishes may preserve his dignity and whoever wishes may abandon it, unless a man asks those in authority or he has no other way in the matter.
Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 1639, Grade: Sahih
Ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَنْ نَزَلَتْ بِهِ فَاقَةٌ فَأَنْزَلَهَا بِالنَّاسِ لَمْ تُسَدَّ فَاقَتُهُ وَمَنْ نَزَلَتْ بِهِ فَاقَةٌ فَأَنْزَلَهَا بِاللَّهِ فَيُوشِكُ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِرِزْقٍ عَاجِلٍ أَوْ آجِلٍ
Whoever is afflicted by a pressing need and complains to people, his need will never be satisfied. Whoever is afflicted by a pressing need and complains to Allah, eventually Allah will provide for him, sooner or later.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2326, Grade: Sahih
Thawban reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَنْ يَكْفُلُ لِي أَنْ لَا يَسْأَلَ النَّاسَ شَيْئًا وَأَتَكَفَّلُ لَهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ
Who will guarantee for me that he will not ask people for anything, and I will guarantee for him Paradise?
Thawban said:
أَنَا
I will
Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 1643, Grade: Sahih
Qabisa ibn Mukhariq reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِنَّ الْمَسْأَلَةَ لَا تَحِلُّ إِلَّا لِأَحَدِ ثَلَاثَةٍ رَجُلٍ تَحَمَّلَ حَمَالَةً فَحَلَّتْ لَهُ الْمَسْأَلَةُ حَتَّى يُصِيبَهَا ثُمَّ يُمْسِكُ وَرَجُلٌ أَصَابَتْهُ جَائِحَةٌ اجْتَاحَتْ مَالَهُ فَحَلَّتْ لَهُ الْمَسْأَلَةُ حَتَّى يُصِيبَ قِوَامًا مِنْ عَيْشٍ أَوْ قَالَ سِدَادًا مِنْ عَيْشٍ وَرَجُلٌ أَصَابَتْهُ فَاقَةٌ حَتَّى يَقُومَ ثَلَاثَةٌ مِنْ ذَوِي الْحِجَا مِنْ قَوْمِهِ لَقَدْ أَصَابَتْ فُلَانًا فَاقَةٌ فَحَلَّتْ لَهُ الْمَسْأَلَةُ حَتَّى يُصِيبَ قِوَامًا مِنْ عَيْشٍ أَوْ قَالَ سِدَادًا مِنْ عَيْشٍ فَمَا سِوَاهُنَّ مِنْ الْمَسْأَلَةِ سُحْتًا يَأْكُلُهَا صَاحِبُهَا سُحْتًا
Verily, begging is not lawful except for one of three cases: a man who is in heavy debt, so begging is permissible for him until he pays it, after which he must stop; a man whose property is destroyed by a calamity, so begging is permissible for him until he can support himself; and a man who is afflicted by poverty attested to by three astute members of his people, so begging is permissible for him until he can support himself. Besides these three begging is forbidden and the beggar consumes what is forbidden.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1044, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لَيْسَ الْمِسْكِينُ بِالَّذِي تَرُدُّهُ التَّمْرَةُ وَالتَّمْرَتَانِ وَلَا اللُّقْمَةُ وَاللُّقْمَتَانِ إِنَّمَا الْمِسْكِينُ الْمُتَعَفِّفُ اقْرَءُوا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ لَا يَسْأَلُونَ النَّاسَ إِلْحَافًا
The poor person is not the one who is satisfied with a date or two, or a morsel or two, but rather the poor person is only one who abstains from begging. Recite the verse if you wish, ‘They do not beg people persistently.’ (2:273)
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4539, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
In another narration, the Prophet said:
لَيْسَ الْمِسْكِينُ بِهَذَا الطَّوَّافِ الَّذِي يَطُوفُ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَتَرُدُّهُ اللُّقْمَةُ وَاللُّقْمَتَانِ وَالتَّمْرَةُ وَالتَّمْرَتَانِ
The truly poor man is not the one who goes around people and is dismissed by a morsel, two morsels, or one or two dates.
They said, “Then who is the poor man, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet said:
الَّذِي لَا يَجِدُ غِنًى يُغْنِيهِ وَلَا يُفْطَنُ لَهُ فَيُتَصَدَّقَ عَلَيْهِ وَلَا يَسْأَلُ النَّاسَ شَيْئًا
The one who does not find enough to satisfy himself, nor is he considered such that charity would be given to him, nor does he beg people for anything.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1039, Grade: Sahih
Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.
