BEGGING AND SELF-CONTENTMENT EPISODE (2)

 Muslims Till Death:

AS SALAAMU ALAYKUM WARAHMATULLAH WABARAKAATUHU. LET'S START TONIGHT'S EDUCATION. OUR TOPIC IS 👇.                                                                              *BEGGING AND SELF-CONTENTMENT EPISODE (2)*                                                                                                                                         

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Thus, the Apostle ﷺ of Allah permitted with the approval of the Almighty Lord to accept anything beneficial that is being given voluntarily without one having to ask for it. One is also not allowed to crave for something that is not being awarded to it as it will be considered as an act of begging under normal circumstances.

*CORRECT WAY OF TREATING BEGGARS*

Islam has strictly forbidden from asking others for money or any other riches rather one has to earn its income by its own effort. According to a Prophetic (PBUH) Saying narrated by Abu Hurraira (R.A):
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It is better for one among you to bring a load of firewood on his back and give charity out of it (and satisfy his own need) and be independent of people, than that he should beg from people, whether they give him anything or refuse him. Verily the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and begin (charity) with your dependants.” (Muslim)

Therefore, anyone who has enough capacity that it can take care of its own issues should never ask others for affluence rather it should go out, become self-determining and make a living on its own so that it might even be able to aid others.
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In the end, Rasulullah ﷺ has regarded the charitable person being superior to the one that is being contributed. It means one should continue the good work of making donations to the poor for the sake of pleasing the Almighty Lord. Allah SWT says in the Holy Quran:

“So as for the orphan, do not oppress [him]. And as for the petitioner, do not repel [him].” *[Quran, 93: 9-10]*.
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It shows that a believer is not allowed to keep away someone just because that person is asking for a favor. This is because one does not actually know about the actual reason of the beggar behind its request. Thus, one should treat them in a pleasant manner, give them charity and avoid from offending them.

*PERMISSIBILITY OF BEGINNING UNDER SPECIAL CONDITION*

Asking for material goods from the rich is not allowable if this act is being done just for the sake of accumulating wealth for personal gains. This kind of deed is strictly prohibited by the Holy Prophet ﷺ for it is only a source of collecting money for quenching one

s thirst of greed.
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"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.” (Muslim)

The above mentioned Hadith eloquently explains about the serious consequences of asking for one

s self-indulgence in materialistic increase. But not every person is asking for something deliberately without having much reason behind doing so. The Messenger ﷺ of God has prescribed the act of requesting others` help under three particular circumstances which are described i___ Hadith:____*PAGE 6*_______________.                              ✍️...

One who has undertaken a hamalah (pledged money for reconciliation between two persons), for him begging is permissible till he pays that off, after which he must stop it; A man whose property has been destroyed by a calamity which has smitten him, for him begging is permissible till he gets what will support life; And a person who has been smitten by

poverty the genuineness of which is confirmed by three intelligent members of his people. For him begging is permissible till he gets what will support him. (Muslim).
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Thus, there are three conditions under which the act of asking others is permissible beyond which it is forbidden: having promised a portion of money for the sake of settlement between two parties till it has been paid off; a miserable state of a person because it has lost all its capital and assets due to a natural disaster till it can sustain its life; and a person who`s dearth of wealth has been confirmed by three trust worthy individuals till that someone is able to make its situation better. It shows that Islam is not a rigid religion on the matter of asking others rather it gives enough room for it when there is no other way of survival.
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In short, begging is not a desirable action according to the Religion of Peace, but only allowed in severe form of need. The rich also have the responsibility to search for such deprived people to help them through charity in order to relieve them from their misery. Allah, the Wise, has said:

وَ أَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلا تَنْهَرْ

“And as for him, who asks, do not chide (him)”1
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) said:

لو لا ان السائل يكذب ما قدس من رده

“If it were not for the telling of lies by the beggars, one who rebuffed them, would not be consecrated”.
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Some people have transformed themselves into beggars, adopting begging as their profession; despite possessing the means, they extend their hands before others, requesting help and assistance. These are those who, on the Day of Judgment, shall meet God in a state that their faces shall be devoid of flesh.

A Mu'min is one, who does not bark like a dog, does not possess avarice, and whose self-esteem prevents him from stretching out his hands before every Tom, Dick and Harry. How then is it possible for the face, which falls into prostration for God and the hands that rise up towards the heavens in the qunoot, to humiliate and debase themselves before others?.
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Of course, the Mu'mins ought to identify those that are needy and while preserving their respect and esteem, assist them in order that they do not stretch out their hands for begging.

▫️ Imam Sadiq and the Beggar
Masma’ Ibn A'bd al-Malik relates:

We were in the company of Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) at Mina (where the Pilgrims halt during Hajj) and engaged in eating grapes that lay before us in a vessel when a beggar approached us and asked the Imam (peace be upon him) for some help.
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The Imam (peace be upon him) ordered a bunch of grapes to be given to him. When the grapes were offered to him, the beggar refused saying: I am not in need of this. I require dirhams.

The Imam (peace be upon him) said: May God increase your sustenance. The beggar departed but returned shortly and said: Give me that bunch of grapes. The Imam (peace be upon him) said:  May God increase your livelihood, but this time did not give him any grapes.
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Not very long afterwards, another beggar arrived and asked him for something to be given to him. The Imam (peace be upon him) picked up three grapes with his own hands and handed them to him. The beggar took the grapes and said: Praise be to the God of the Worlds, Who provided me these grapes.

Hearing this, the Imam (peace be upon him) said to him: Wait.

Then filling his two palms with grapes, he handed them to the beggar. The beggar took the grapes and again praised God.

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End of Today's Education. Subhanakallahuma wabihamdik ash-Hadu an laaila Ilan Anta astagfiruka wa atuuubu ilayhi. *We shall continue tomorrow on this same topic in sha Allah*. Questions, problems and complaints on this program are welcome privately. May HE strengthen and make us steadfast in faith. May HE accept our ibaadat and grant us the Good in this World and the Hereafter. May Allah Azza wa jalla forgive and grant us Jannah...AMIN.