In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
Imam al-Nawawi records in his book Meadows of the Righteous:
باب الحث عَلَى الأكل من عمل يده والتعفف به عن السؤال والتعرض للإعطاء
Chapter on urging people to eat from the work of their own hands and refrain from asking and being exposed to giving.
Source: Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn 1/185
Allah Almighty said:
فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَانتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
Once the prayer is over, disperse throughout the land and seek the bounty of Allah. And remember Allah often so you may be successful.
Surat al-Jumu’ah 62:10
Al-Zubayr ibn al-’Awwam reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لَأَنْ يَأْخُذَ أَحَدُكُمْ حَبْلَهُ فَيَأْتِيَ بِحُزْمَةِ الْحَطَبِ عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ فَيَبِيعَهَا فَيَكُفَّ اللهُ بِهَا وَجْهَهُ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَسْأَلَ النَّاسَ أَعْطَوْهُ أَوْ مَنَعُوهُ
For one of you to carry a rope and bring firewood upon his back to sell, by which Allah saves his face, is better for you than asking from people who might give to you or withhold from you.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1471, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَأَنْ يَأْخُذَ أَحَدُكُمْ حَبْلَهُ فَيَحْتَطِبَ عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ رَجُلًا فَيَسْأَلَهُ أَعْطَاهُ أَوْ مَنَعَهُ
By the One in whose hand is my soul, if one of you were to carry a bundle of firewood on his back and sell it, that would be better for him than begging a man who may or may not give him anything.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1470, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
خُفِّفَ عَلَى دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام الْقُرْآنُ فَكَانَ يَأْمُرُ بِدَوَابِّهِ فَتُسْرَجُ فَيَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُسْرَجَ دَوَابُّهُ وَلَا يَأْكُلُ إِلَّا مِنْ عَمَلِ يَدِهِ
The recitation of scripture was made easy for David. He would order that his mount be saddled, and he would finish his recitation before they were saddled. He would never eat but from the work of his own hands.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3417, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
كَانَ زَكَرِيَّا عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام نَجَّارًا
Zechariah, upon him be peace, worked as a carpenter.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2379, Grade: Sahih
Anas ibn Malik reported: A man from the helpers came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and begged from him. The Prophet asked:
أَمَا فِي بَيْتِكَ شَيْءٌ
Have you nothing in your house?
He replied, “Yes, a piece of cloth, a part of which we wear and a part of which we spread on the ground, and a wooden bowl from which we drink water.” The Prophet said:
ائْتِنِي بِهِمَا
Bring them to me.
He then brought these articles to him and he took them in his hands and asked:
مَنْ يَشْتَرِي هَذَيْنِ
Who will buy these?
A man said, “I will buy them for one coin.” He said twice or thrice:
مَنْ يَزِيدُ عَلَى دِرْهَمٍ
Who will offer more than one coin?
A man said, “I will buy them for two coins.” He gave these to him and took the two coins and, giving them to the helper, the Prophet said:
اشْتَرِ بِأَحَدِهِمَا طَعَامًا فَانْبِذْهُ إِلَى أَهْلِكَ وَاشْتَرِ بِالْآخَرِ قَدُومًا فَأْتِنِي بِهِ
Buy food with one of them and hand it to your family, and buy an axe and bring it to me.
He then brought it to him. The Prophet fixed a handle on it with his own hands and said:
اذْهَبْ فَاحْتَطِبْ وَبِعْ وَلَا أَرَيَنَّكَ خَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ يَوْمًا
Go gather firewood and sell it, and do not let me see you for a fortnight.
The man went away and gathered firewood and sold it. When he had earned ten coins, he came to him and bought a garment with some of them and food with the others. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, then said:
هَذَا خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ أَنْ تَجِيءَ الْمَسْأَلَةُ نُكْتَةً فِي وَجْهِكَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّ الْمَسْأَلَةَ لَا تَصْلُحُ إِلَّا لِثَلَاثَةٍ لِذِي فَقْرٍ مُدْقِعٍ أَوْ لِذِي غُرْمٍ مُفْظِعٍ أَوْ لِذِي دَمٍ مُوجِعٍ
This is better for you than for begging to come as a blemish on your face on the Day of Resurrection. Begging is only appropriate for three people: one in grinding poverty, one in serious debt, and one who must pay a difficult compensation.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawud 1641, Grade: Sahih li ghayrihi
Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.
