SECTION ON ZAKAT · 26 – CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN BEGGING IS PERMISSIBLE
Semure (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Begging is shamelessness and a tearing [of one’s dignity]. Whoever desires to tear [his face], let him do so; whoever wishes, let him abandon it. It is permissible for a person to ask from someone in authority what is rightfully his, or to ask from another due to an unavoidable necessity.”
[482]
**Explanation:** One may request from the ruler what is owed to him in matters of finance. Also, if one is compelled and falls into a state of hardship, he may ask for whatever suffices to rescue himself. Besides this, asking [for charity] brings about disgrace.
Kabisa ibn Muharik al-Hilali, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated:
I undertook a diyya (blood money) to reconcile between two tribes. I came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and explained the situation. The Messenger of Allah said to me: “O Kabisa! Remain in Medina until the sadaqa (charity) is collected. Then We will order that it be given to you from it.” Then he said again, "O Kabisa, asking is not permissible for anything except three things. If a person undertakes a diyya between two tribes, then asking is permissible for him as long as he pays the diyya. When the diyya is paid, he must cease asking. Again, if calamities befall someone and he becomes needy for his lost property, then asking is permissible for him until his livelihood stabilizes or he reaches a moderate state in his livelihood. When he reaches that state, he must cease asking. Again, if poverty strikes someone and they say to them – ‘Poverty has struck so-and-so from among your people’ – then asking is permissible for him until his livelihood stabilizes or he reaches a moderate state in his livelihood. When he reaches that state, he must cease asking. O Kabisa, all requests other than these three are forbidden. Those who ask have eaten the forbidden.”
Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
A man from the Ansar came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) and requested something. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said to him, “Is there nothing in your house?” The man replied, "We have a cloak which we spread out and cover ourselves with, and a water vessel with which we drink.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said to him, “Bring me the cloak and the water vessel.” The Ansari brought both of them. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) took hold of the cloak and the water vessel and said, "Who will buy these two?" A man said, "I will buy them for one dirham." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) asked twice or three times, “Is there anyone who will give more than one dirham?” Again, a man said, "I will buy them for two dirhams.” He gave the cloak and the water vessel to that person. After receiving the two dirhams, he gave the two dirhams to the owner of the items and said, “Take one dirham of this money and buy food for your family, and take the other dirham and bring me a kesa (small cloth).” The man brought a kesa to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) fitted a handle to the axe, then (said to the man), “Go, gather wood and sell it, and I will not see you for fifteen days.” The man went, gathered wood, sold it, and came back with ten dirhams. He bought some cloth and some food. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said to him, "This is better for you than coming before Me on the Day of Resurrection with a mark of beggary on your face. Asking [for help] is permissible only for three types of people: one who is overcome by poverty and cannot free himself from it; one who is burdened with debt that he cannot pay; and one who takes responsibility for blood money (diyya) to mediate.” [484]
EXPLANATION:
*Hils*: A cloak or spread made of wool, laid upon the backs of camels or on the ground.
*Ga’b*: Means a cup and goblet.
*Mudghig*: One who is stuck in poverty.
*Mufdig*: Terrible.
*Demun muci*: Bitter blood that causes weeping; when one tribe kills someone from another tribe, there is a blood feud between them. Someone takes on the responsibility of the diyya to reconcile them. This is called *hamala*. Helping such people is appropriate.