Given that such generosity also promotes beggary, should that be encouaged.
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
(May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked
this question:
This question is
regarding the sadqaah given to the poor.
I understand that the first right over sadqaa is by the one who is in need but
doesnt ask for it.
However, what about those who openly ask for money(Beggars), specially outside
the mosques etc.
Given that such generosity also promotes beggary, should that be encouaged.
I am not able to form an opinion regarding this.Help
(There may be some grammatical and spelling
errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from
questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in
confidentiality.)
Answer:
Charity to beggars
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His
help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide,
and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear
witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear
witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His
Messengers.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 51 Surah
Dhaariyaat verses 15-19:
15 As to the Righteous they will be in the
midst of Gardens and Springs
16 Taking joy in the things which their Lord gives them because before
then they lived a good life.
17 They were in the habit of sleeping but
little by night
18 And in the hours of early dawn they (were
found) praying for forgiveness;
19 And in their wealth and possessions (was remembered) the right of
the (needy): him who asked, and him who (for some reason) was prevented
(from asking).
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 93 Surah
Dhoha verses 9-10:
9 Therefore treat not the orphan with
harshness
10 Nor repulse those who ask (for something
in charity)…..
Dear and beloved brother in Islam, Allah Subhanah has not
given man the power to look into the hearts or intentions of other human beings
and judge or determine the exact intentions of the other….thus it is possible
that one is in such dire straits and in such desperate need, that killing the
self-respect which each human being is bestowed with, one is compelled by one’s
misery to beg or ask his brethren to help him.
The Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) was that, if
it was within his means, he (saws) would never ever refuse someone who asked
him for something in charity for the Sake of Allah Subhanah; for whatever one
spends in the Cause or for the Sake of Allah Subhanah, absolutely regardless of
what transpires or what the other does with the charity, the one who gave the
charity only for the fear and sake of their Lord, will have their full and due
reward in the Presence of their Lord Most Gracious.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 63 Surah
Munafiqoon verse 10:
Spend (in the Cause of Allah) from the
provisions that We have given you before death should come to any of you and
then he should say, "O my Lord, why did You not reprieve me awhile that I
should have given in charity and become of the righteous." But Allah does
not at all reprieve a person when his term comes to an end, and Allah is well
aware of what you all do.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah
Baqarah verse 261:
The charity of those who expend their wealth in
the Way of Allah may be likened to a grain of corn, which produces seven ears
and each ear yields a hundred grains. Likewise Allah develops manifold the
charity of anyone He pleases, for He is All-Embracing, All-Wise.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah
Baqarah verse 254:
Believers, spend of the wealth We have bestowed
upon you (in Allah's way), before the Day comes when there shall be no buying
and no selling; when neither friendship nor intercession will be of any avail.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah
Taubah verse 60:
60 Alms are for the poor, the needy, and those employed to administer
the (funds), for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to the
Truth), for those in bondage and in debt, in the Cause of Allah, and for the
wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of knowledge and
wisdom.
Thus unless and until one is absolutely sure and certain
and has enough reason to believe that the person who is asking or begging charity
of them would spend it on the unlawful (alcohol, drugs, gambling, prostitution,
etc.)….one who is blessed with abundance from their Lord should not hesitate to
give in charity to the poor and needy, regardless of whether they choose to ask
and beg, or they abstain from asking.
As much as the guidance of Islam absolutely discourages
and dislikes one to beg of men or ‘beggary’ without an absolutely genuine need
or cause, Islam absolutely encourages the believers to fulfill the needs of
those poor and needy who ask, and those who don’t ask…..
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1850 Narrated by Hubshi ibn Junadah
Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Begging
is not allowable to a rich man, or to one who has strength and is sound in
limb, but only to one who is in grinding poverty or is seriously in debt. If
anyone begs to increase thereby his property, it will appear as laceration on
his face on the Day of Resurrection and as heated stones which he will eat from
Jahannam. So let him who wishes ask little, and let him who wishes ask
much."
Sahih Muslim Hadith 2266 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah
Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘He who begs
the riches of others to increase his own is asking only for live coals, so let
him ask a little or much.’
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 5287 Narrated by Abu Kabshah al-Anmari
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said,
"There are three things which I swear to be true, and I ask you to
memorize them.
- a
man's property does not decrease on account of sadaqah (giving charity);
- that
when a man is wronged and bears it patiently, Allah will give him greater
honour on that account;
- and
that when a man opens a door towards begging Allah opens for him a door
towards poverty.”
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1941 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas
Allah's Messenger (saws), said, "I shall
tell you who is the best of men; he is a man who holds his horse's rein in
Allah's Cause. I shall tell you who comes next to him; he is a man who retires
with a few goats which he possesses and pays what is due (sadaqah, zakah, etc.)
unto Allah on them. I shall tell you who is the worst of men; he is a man
from whom someone begs in Allah's Name, but who does not give anything in His Name."
Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 1668 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar
The Prophet (saws) said: ‘If anyone seeks
protection in Allah's Name, grant him protection; if anyone begs in
Allah's Name, give him something; if anyone gives you an invitation,
accept it; and if anyone does you a kindness, recompense him; but if you have
not the means to do so, pray for him until you feel that you have compensated
him.’
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only
due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me
alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is
the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Burhan