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Alhumdullilah!
Since days, I was thinking to share a topic which could really help us, strengthen our Iman.
Alhumdullila...
The Prophets were the best examples of self-sufficiency, hard work, and responsibility.
For example, The Prophet Dawood, upon him be peace, would never eat a meal unless he earned it himself.
Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
وَلَا يَأْكُلُ إِلَّا مِنْ عَمَلِ يَدِهِ
Dawood(AS) would never eat except from the earnings of his own hand’s work.
Source: Sahih Bukhari 3235, Grade: Sahih
Dawood A.S would work with his own hands even though he was king of the Israelites. He could have lived a life of luxury and ease, but rather he set for us an excellent example of responsibility and hard work.
Likewise, the Prophet Zechariah, upon him be peace, earned his living as a humble carpenter.
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: Sahih Muslim 2379, Grade: Sahih
Prophet Muhammad SAWS would also serve himself and perform chores for his family, rather than having others work for him.
AishaRA reported: She was asked,
“What did the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, do in his house?”
O Allah, I ask you for guidance, righteousness, abstinence, and independence.
Source: Sahih Muslim 2721, Grade: Sahih
For those who are struggling to meet their needs, it is a virtue to give them charity but it is even better to give them the means to support themselves, as in the popular saying,
“Feed a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
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- On one occasion, a man came to the Prophet begging him for charity but the Prophet gave him the means to work for himself.
Anasibn Malik reported:
A man from the Ansar came to the Messenger of Allah, 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:
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:
.
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:
This is better for you than that begging should come as a spot on your face on the Day of Judgment. Begging is right only for three people:
for one who is in grinding poverty,
or for one who is in severe debt,
or for a painful compensation for killing.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawud 1641, Grade: Hasan
Begging without a valid excuse is a major sin in Islam and there is no blessing in the charity one receives from such begging.
Despite the injunctions against begging, we should answer the request of the beggar and give them charity, for the Prophet never refused anyone who asked him in the name of Islam.
Musa ibnAnasreported:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was never asked anything for the sake of Islam but that he would give it.
He gave a man large numbers of sheep, so the man went back to his people and said:
O people, become Muslim because Muhammad gives as if he has no fear of poverty.
Source: Sahih Muslim 4275, Grade: Sahih
The Prophet would even give charity even to beggars who were rude and disrespectful.
In summary...
Muslims should develop a strong and responsible work ethic. We should do our best to provide for ourselves and others, rather than relying upon the charity of others. We should not beg unless it is absolutely necessary, but even then we should answer the request of the beggar.
By him 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: Sahih Bukhari 1401, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
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